A detailed investigation of block dynamic sliding by the discontinuous deformation analysis

An extensive examination of the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) in block dynamic sliding modeling is carried out in this paper. Theoretical solutions for a single block sliding on an arbitrarily inclined plane by applying the horizontal/vertical seismic loadings to the sliding block as acceleration time histories or to the base as constraint displacement time histories are derived. As compared with the theoretical solutions, for a single block sliding, the DDA predicts the sliding displacements and block interaction forces accurately under various base incline angles and friction angles under both the harmonic loadings and a real seismic loading. The vertical seismic component may influence the block sliding displacements to different extent, and the DDA can capture these phenomena successfully and give accurate results. For the calculation of the single block relative sliding, both the theoretical and the DDA solutions indicate that applying the seismic accelerations as constraint displacement time histories (derived by integrating the seismic accelerations twice) to the base is equivalent to applying the seismic accelerations as volume forces to the sliding block in the opposite directions. The DDA modeling also demonstrates that this conclusion still stands for the case of multi‐block sliding. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New point-to-face contact algorithm for 3-D contact problems using the augmented Lagrangian method in 3-D DDA

This paper presents a new point-to-face contact algorithm for contacts between two polyhedrons with planar boundaries. A new discrete numerical method called three-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis (3-D DDA) is used and formulations of normal contact submatrices based on the proposed algorithm are derived. The presented algorithm is a simple and efficient method and it can be easily coded into a computer program. This approach does not need to use an iterative algorithm in each time step to obtain the contact plane, unlike the ‘Common-Plane’ method applied in the existing 3-D DDA. In the present 3-D DDA method, block contact constraints are enforced using the penalty method. This approach is quite simple, but may lead to inaccuracies that may be large for small values of the penalty number. The penalty method also creates block contact overlap, which violates the physical constraints of the problem. These limitations are overcome by using the augmented Lagrangian method that is used for normal contacts in this research. This point-to-face contact model has been programmed and some illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the new contact rule between two blocks. A comparison between results obtained by using the augmented Lagrangian method and the penalty method is presented as well.     

基于线性互补的非连续变形分析

非连续变形分析(DDA)方法是一种新的用来分析块体系统运动和变形的非连续介质数值计算方法。研究的核心工作是致力于对现有DDA接触问题处理方法的改进。DDA主要采用罚函数法和Lagrange乘子法处理接触问题,合理设定罚参数很困难,此外,因开闭迭代而引起的刚度矩阵的不连续变化也会导致收敛方面的困难。为避免引入罚参数及传统意义上的开闭迭代,用混合线性互补模型(LCDDA)对DDA方法进行了重新描述。在此基础上,综合基于非光滑分析的Newton法的局部平方收敛和最速下降法的全局线性收敛的优势,提出求解LCDDA模型的有效算法。根据上述思想及理论研究成果编制了完整的计算程序,算例计算结果证明了方法的精度及可行性。     

On the Implementation of augmented Lagrangian method in the two‐dimensional discontinuous deformation Analysis

The discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) is a discontinuum‐based method, which employs a penalty method to represent the contact between blocks. The penalty method is easy to be implemented in the program, but the contact constraint is only approximately satisfied. Penetrations between contacting blocks are unavoidable even if the penalty value is very large. To improve the contact precision in the DDA, an augmented Lagrangian method is introduced, which can make use of advantages of both the Lagrangian multiplier method and the penalty method. This paper provides a detailed implementation of the augmented Lagrangian method in the DDA program and compares it with the standard DDA on the computational efficiency and contact precision. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalized contact model for polyhedra in three‐dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis

We present a generalized contact computation model for arbitrarily shaped polyhedra to simplify the contact analysis in discontinuous deformation analysis. A list of generalized contact constraints can be established for contacting polyhedra during contact detection. Each contact constraint contains information for 2 contact points, unique contact plane, and related contact modes (open, locked, or sliding). Computational aspects of the generalized contact model include identification of contact positions and contact modes, uniform penalty formulation of generalized contact constraint, and uniform updating of contact modes and contact planes in the open‐close iteration. Compared with previous strategies, the generalized contact computation model has a simpler data structure and fewer memory requirements. Meanwhile, it simplifies the penalty formulation and facilitates the open‐close iteration check while producing enough accuracy. Illustrative examples show the ability of the method to handle the full range of polyhedral shapes.     

Non-rigid disk-based DDA with a new contact model

In this paper, a new disk-based DDA formulation is presented. In the original disk-based DDA, disks are considered to be rigid and the penalty method is used to enforce disk contact constraints. In order to improve the accuracy of the disk-based DDA, new formulations of stiffness and force matrices for non-rigid disks using a new efficient contact model are presented in this paper. Blocks are considered deformable without need to do more computations for contact detection. In the proposed contact model, disk–disk and disk–boundary contacts are transformed into the form of point-to-line contacts and normal spring, shear spring and frictional force sub-matrices are derived by vector analysis. The penalty method is quite simple to implement, but has some major disadvantages. In the presented contact model, not only the simplicity of the penalty method is retained but also the limitations are overcome by using the augmented Lagrangian method. Moreover, unlike the contact model used in the original disk-based DDA, reference line can be obtained directly by using only coordinates of disk centers and their radii, and no more computations are needed. The validity and capability of the new disk-based DDA formulation are demonstrated by several illustrative examples.     

A development of the discontinuous deformation analysis for rock fall analysis

Discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA), a discrete numerical analysis method, is used to simulate the behaviour of falling rock by applying a linear displacement function in the computations. However, when a block rotates, this linear function causes a change in block size called the free expansion phenomenon. In addition, this free expansion results in contact identification problems when the rotating blocks are close to each other. To solve this problem of misjudgment and to obtain a more precise simulation of the falling rock, a new method called Post‐Contact Adjustment Method has been developed and applied to the program. The basic procedure of this new method can be divided into three stages: using the linear displacement function to generate the global matrix, introducing the non‐linear displacement function to the contact identification, and applying it to update the co‐ordinates of block vertices. This new method can be easily applied to the original DDA program, demonstrating better contact identification and size conservation results for falling rock problems than the original program. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Boundary Element based Discontinuous Deformation Analysis

A Boundary Element based Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (BE‐DDA) method is developed by implementing the improved dual reciprocity boundary element method into the open close iterations based DDA. This newly developed BE‐DDA is capable of simulating both the deformation and movement of blocks in a blocky system. Based on geometry updating, it adopts an incremental dynamic formulation taking into consideration initial stresses and dealing with external concentrated and contact forces conveniently. The boundaries of each block in the discrete blocky system are discretized with boundary elements while the domain of each block is divided into internal cells only for the integration of the domain integral of the initial stress term. The contact forces among blocks are treated as concentrated forces and the open–close iterations are applied to ensure the computational accuracy of block interactions. In the current method, an implicit time integration scheme is adopted for numerical stability. Three examples are used to show the effectiveness of the algorithm in simulating block movement, sliding, deformation and interaction of blocks. At last, block toppling and tunnel stability examples are conducted to demonstrate that the BE‐DDA is applicable for simulation of blocky systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

混合多位移模式的非连续变形分析法研究

传统的非连续变形分析法（DDA）法采用简单的线性位移模式计算效率高,描述大块体的高阶多项式位移模式在一定程度保留了该特点,并提高了计算精度。近年来流行的耦合有限元、自然单元的DDA法实质上是引入相应的插值形函数构成块体位移函数,计算相对低效,但具有计算更精细、更容易施加边界条件等优点。为结合传统DDA法与DDA耦合法各自的优点,建立了一种同时利用传统DDA法线性位移模式与耦合型DDA法非线性位移模式的混合法。该方法非线性模式主要针对大块体,采用了自然单元插值,缘于其具有一定无网格特征,且效率比有限元高。建立了混合模式下的整体矩阵并推导出接触等因素刚度子矩阵和荷载子向量的具体表达式。该方法建模更加方便合理,计算精度、效率介于线性模式的传统DDA法和非线性位移模式的耦合法之间。通过基本算例验证了混合法的有效性,并给出了节理围岩-隧道衬砌整体分析模型的计算结果,体现了新方法的优越性。     

Rigid body rotation and block internal discretization in DDA analysis

In the original formulation of DDA by Shi, a linear displacement function term is used. This has the limitations of uncontrolled block and stress distortion due to rigid body rotation. In the present paper, the authors propose a new iterative method which can avoid the distortion due to the rotation even when the rotation or number of time‐step is large. Furthermore, the authors propose a simple internal discretization scheme which is applicable for both concave and convex polygon which is particularly important for a large block. The stress and strain distribution with a large block can be obtained with ease under this scheme. The numerical examples as shown have demonstrated the advantages of the present proposal in DDA analysis. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

非连续变形分析中块体大转动问题研究

原有非连续变形分析（DDA）采用一阶近似后的位移增量表达式更新块体构形,推导相关子矩阵,且对不同时步计算出的应变增量直接叠加,当模拟的块体发生大转动时往往会产生较大误差。为考虑块体转动与变形的耦合作用,引入先变形、后转动的块体位移增量表达式。重新推导了惯性力子矩阵,将块体转动时的离心力与科氏力加到荷载矩阵中。计算时对应变分量及其相关变量进行坐标变换与修正,并采用新引入的位移增量表达式计算块体顶点位移,进行后接触修正与更新块体构形。数值算例表明,改进后的程序能够消除转动带来的误差,自动考虑了块体转动时离心力和科氏力引起的变形,应变计算精度更高。改进方法克服了块体体积自由膨胀、应变场畸变等问题,给出了合理的块体应变。     

应用自然邻接点插值法的块体非连续变形分析

传统的非连续变形分析法(DDA)采用线性位移模式存在诸多缺陷。为准确计算块体应力场,传统上一般直接增加位移函数的多项式阶次,或进行子块体划分或耦合有限元等改进措施,但应用上仍不够方便有效。建议引进无网格节点位移插值模式,采用自然单元法中的自然邻接点插值(NNI)法,具有插值特性,易于准确实施边界条件或材料连续性条件,且具有无网格特征和良好的计算精度,计算更快效。可在此基础上进一步分析大块体弯曲、裂纹扩展破坏形式等,以解决线性位移模式等的不足。     

Three‐dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis of pile groups in saturated porous media using a new transmitting boundary

The dynamic behaviour of pile groups subjected to an earthquake base shaking is analysed. An analysis is formulated in the time domain and the effects of material nonlinearity of soil, pile–soil–pile kinematic interaction and the superstructure–foundation inertial interaction on seismic response are investigated. Prediction of response of pile group–soil system during a large earthquake requires consideration of various aspects such as the nonlinear and elasto‐plastic behaviour of soil, pore water pressure generation in soil, radiation of energy away from the pile, etc. A fully explicit dynamic finite element scheme is developed for saturated porous media, based on the extension of the original formulation by Biot having solid displacement (u) and relative fluid displacement (w) as primary variables (u–w formulation). All linear relative fluid acceleration terms are included in this formulation. A new three‐dimensional transmitting boundary that was developed in cartesian co‐ordinate system for dynamic response analysis of fluid‐saturated porous media is implemented to avoid wave reflections towards the structure. In contrast to traditional methods, this boundary is able to absorb surface waves as well as body waves. The pile–soil interaction problem is analysed and it is shown that the results from the fully coupled procedure, using the advanced transmitting boundary, compare reasonably well with centrifuge data. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nodal-based three-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis (3-D DDA)

This paper presents a new numerical model that can add a finite element mesh into each block of the three-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis (3-D DDA), originally developed by Gen-hua Shi. The main objectives of this research are to enhance DDA block’s deformability. Formulations of stiffness and force matrices in 3-D DDA with conventional Trilinear (8-node) and Serendipity (20-node) hexahedral isoparametric finite elements meshed block system due to elastic stress, initial stress, point load, body force, displacement constraints, inertia force, normal and shear contact forces are derived in detail for program coding. The program code for the Trilinear and Serendipity hexahedron elements have been developed, and it has been applied to some examples to show the advantages achieved when finite element is associated with 3-D DDA to handle problems under large displacements and deformations. Results calculated for the same models by use of the original 3-D DDA are far from the theoretical solutions while the results of new numerical model are quite good in agreement with theoretical solutions; however, for the Trilinear elements, more number of elements are needed.     

Frictionless contact formulation for dynamic analysis of nonlinear saturated porous media based on the mortar method

A finite element algorithm for frictionless contact problems in a two‐phase saturated porous medium, considering finite deformation and inertia effects, has been formulated and implemented in a finite element programme. The mechanical behaviour of the saturated porous medium is predicted using mixture theory, which models the dynamic advection of fluids through a fully saturated porous solid matrix. The resulting mixed formulation predicts all field variables including the solid displacement, pore fluid pressure and Darcy velocity of the pore fluid. The contact constraints arising from the requirement for continuity of the contact traction, as well as the fluid flow across the contact interface, are enforced using a penalty approach that is regularised with an augmented Lagrangian method. The contact formulation is based on a mortar segment‐to‐segment scheme that allows the interpolation functions of the contact elements to be of order N. The main thrust of this paper is therefore how to deal with contact interfaces in problems that involve both dynamics and consolidation and possibly large deformations of porous media. The numerical algorithm is first verified using several illustrative examples. This algorithm is then employed to solve a pipe‐seabed interaction problem, involving large deformations and dynamic effects, and the results of the analysis are also compared with those obtained using a node‐to‐segment contact algorithm. The results of this study indicate that the proposed method is able to solve the highly nonlinear problem of dynamic soil–structure interaction when coupled with pore water pressures and Darcy velocity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative study of Sarma's method and the discontinuous deformation analysis for rock slope stability analysis

This paper presents a comparative study of two methods, Sarma's method and the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA), for rock slope stability analysis. The comparison concerns the stability analysis of two classic rock slopes. The study shows that the DDA, which accounts for the block kinematics, provides a very different factor of safety as compared with Sarma's method. More realistic reaction forces around each rock block can be obtained by the DDA, including the thrust forces between rock blocks and the forces between the base and the blocks. The DDA's result shows two possible directions for the relative movement between two contiguous blocks at the initiation of slope failure. It also indicates that the limit equilibrium condition may not occur along the interfaces of rock blocks at the initiation of slope failure. The determination of realistic interaction forces around each block will be very important in rock slope stability analysis if nonlinear failure criteria are considered.     

Some numerical issues using element‐free Galerkin mesh‐less method for coupled hydro‐mechanical problems

A new formulation of the element‐free Galerkin (EFG) method is developed for solving coupled hydro‐mechanical problems. The numerical approach is based on solving the two governing partial differential equations of equilibrium and continuity of pore water simultaneously. Spatial variables in the weak form, i.e. displacement increment and pore water pressure increment, are discretized using the same EFG shape functions. An incremental constrained Galerkin weak form is used to create the discrete system equations and a fully implicit scheme is used for discretization in the time domain. Implementation of essential boundary conditions is based on a penalty method. Numerical stability of the developed formulation is examined in order to achieve appropriate accuracy of the EFG solution for coupled hydro‐mechanical problems. Examples are studied and compared with closed‐form or finite element method solutions to demonstrate the validity of the developed model and its capabilities. The results indicate that the EFG method is capable of handling coupled problems in saturated porous media and can predict well both the soil deformation and variation of pore water pressure over time. Some guidelines are proposed to guarantee the accuracy of the EFG solution for coupled hydro‐mechanical problems. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

三维边坡稳定性分析中的边界约束效应

边界约束条件是影响边坡强度折减有限元分析稳定性计算结果的一个重要因素。结合典型边坡算例计算给出了不同边界约束条件下的三维边坡稳定性安全系数及潜在滑动面,并进行了差异性的对比研究,最后结合存在软弱夹层与地下水的三维边坡开展了应用性研究。结果表明：边界约束条件对边坡稳定安全系数具有显著的影响。在全约束条件下安全系数最大,其次为半约束边界条件,自由边界条件下的稳定安全系数最小,全约束边界比自由边界条件下的安全系数提高大约30%。边界约束条件对边坡潜在滑动面有重要的影响。在土性参数完全相同的条件下,与全约束条件相比,半约束边界条件下的滑体体积更大,滑动面更深,滑出点位置从离坡脚不远处向坡脚变化的过程更加明显。自由边界条件下与二维计算结果较接近。     

The Case Study Analysis of Strain�CStress for Jointed Rock Mass Using Element Free Galerkin Method and Paton��s Failure

In this paper evaluated a case study for jointed rock mass using element free Galerkin method and Paton??s failure. The displacement field of each block is constructed by the moving least-squares interpolation with an array of points distributed in the block. The essential boundary conditions are enforced using penalty method. It is shown that excellent results are obtained and less calculation time is required as compared to finite difference method.     

Kinetic Energy Dissipation and Convergence Criterion of Discontinuous Deformations Analysis (DDA) for Geotechnical Engineering

The discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) is a numerical method for modeling discontinuous deformation behaviour of jointed rocks. In this paper, two basic problems are discussed related to kinetic energy dissipation and the convergence criterion for the DDA method when it is applied to geotechnical engineering. In view of the fact that the deformation and progressive failure can be treated as a quasi-static process with low kinetic energy dissipation rates, this paper introduces a viscous damping component to absorb discrete blocks’ kinetic energy, establishes the global equations of motion of the discrete block system that take damping effects into account, investigates the energy dissipation mechanism when solving a static or quasi-static problem, and defines the convergence criteria of displacement, kinetic energy and unbalanced force for DDA solutions when the system arrives at a stable state.