Developing an algorithm for reconstruction blocky systems in discontinuous media: three‐dimensional analysis

Block detection is one of the important steps in all discontinuous methods of analysis such as discontinuous deformation analysis and discrete element method. It is in fact a pre‐processing step for these methods. This paper describes a new approach to the problem of geometrically defining polyhedral rock blocks created by the intersection of planar discontinuities in a rock mass. An approach is developed based on the concept of using matrices with integer elements that mostly represent vertices, edges, or face numbers and their connections. Using square matrices with integer elements and performing edge/face regularization reduce the size of the matrices because of elimination of unnecessary faces, edges, and vertices; speed and accuracy of block tracing operation will be increased. This algorithm is able to trace and identify all kinds of blocks including convex and concave blocks formed by limited or unlimited fractures. The simplicity of the procedure makes it very attractive. The algorithm was programmed in C#.Net by over 8100 code lines; several examples are presented to show application of the algorithm in different situations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

矿石崩落块度的三维建模技术及块度预测

以金川集团Ⅲ矿区为研究对象,根据现场不连续面参数调查结果,利用Monte Carlo模拟方法,产生不连续面综合数据库。然后确定构成岩块的节理面数量、建立三维坐标系统中节理面方程、确定构成岩块的顶点和每个顶点的坐标,并计算岩块的体积、判别岩块的形状特征,从而对矿石崩落块度进行预测。矿石的崩落块度直接影响采场的底部结构设计、出矿设备的选择、二次破碎、炸药消耗的估算等。经过模拟得出的崩落块度预测结果为: 等效尺寸大于0.9 m的块体筛上累积体积百分比为38.2 %,大于1.3 m的块体筛上累积体积百分比为17.2 %。     

乌东德水电站右岸地下厂房随机块体特征研究

随机块体的几何特征和稳定性是水利水电工程中地下厂房支护设计的重要依据。对乌东德水电站右岸地下厂房随机块体的特征进行了深入研究。对研究区域内实测的裂隙参数进行了分组统计,确定了各组裂隙产状、迹长等参数的分布形式和大小。利用逆建模方法建立了三维裂隙网络模型,获取了各组裂隙的直径和三维密度。采用一般块体方法对地下厂房进行随机块体的识别和稳定性分析,利用GeneralBlock软件进行了10次随机实现,对10次计算结果进行了统计分析和讨论。研究结果表明,结构面与开挖面形成的随机块体集中在地下厂房的顶拱部位,10次随机实现中,地下厂房全长范围内平均每次形成的随机块体为414个;随机块体的平均体积为2.9 m³,最大块体的体积达152.0 m³;可移动块体中,大部分为稳定块体,不稳定块体均以坠落形式破坏;构成可移动块体的结构面多为3~4条,最多可达12条,其中倾W向的中等倾角裂隙是构成块体并可能造成块体失稳的最危险结构面;随机块体的平均深度为1.2 m,最大深度为8.8 m。建议支护锚杆应尽量穿透倾W向中等倾角的长大裂隙,且锚杆支护长度大于8.8 m。     

基于有限结构面的三维复杂块体切割研究

岩体的块体结构和结构面网络模型生成,是进行各种力学分析和场分析的基础。详细研究了有限结构面进行复杂块体切割的过程,提出了相应的算法,并采用C++语言编写了相应的程序。为描述块体切割后的复连通特性,在块体数据结构中添加了有向壳的概念。结构面可以为简单的凸多边形,也可采用形态更加复杂的凹多边形。通过面-面求交线、交线环路搜索形成有向环、有向环包含关系分析形成有向面、有向面拓扑搜索形成有向壳和有向壳包含关系分析形成块体等过程,将有限结构面分别与各块体进行切割运算,形成进行块体切割的一般方法。在切割过程中将得到的有向环,有向面、有向壳和块体分别进行拓扑有效性校核,满足要求后得到最终的块体和结构面网络模型。选取4个算例来验证该方法的可行性。计算结果表明,该方法可以对复杂块体进行有效地切割,结构面可以选择包括凹形面在内的复杂多边形,方法具有普遍意义。     

Kinematic and Block Theory Analyses for Shiplock Slopes of the Three Gorges Dam Site in China

The granitic rock mass that exists in the shiplock region of the Three Gorges dam site contains a number of major discontinuities and about four sets of minor discontinuities. One hundred and thirty three major discontinuities have been mapped around the shiplock covering an area of 1740×600 m. These major discontinuities were used to perform rock slope kinematic and block theory analyses. Kinematic analyses were performed under the following two cases: (1) assuming all the mapped discontinuities cross the shiplock; (2) using only discontinuities that actually intersect the shiplock. Under case (1) and case (2) the shiplock faces in the proposed permanent shiplock region in fresh rock were found to be stable up to a cut slope of about 45° and 58°, respectively. Block theory was applied to identify different block types that exist on the shiplock faces and to estimate the maximum safe slope angles on the shiplock faces. The orientations of the major discontinuities that actually intersect the shiplocks were considered in this analysis. The total length of the shiplock (1750 m) was divided into 50 m segments. From the stereo-plots, the key blocks (Type I) and/or potential key blocks (Type II) were found for only five segments of the shiplock slopes. It was found that the dip of the cut slope should be less than about 60° to avoid creation of a key block on the proposed shiplock slopes. However, it is important to keep in mind that these conclusions are based on the kinematic analyses performed using only the major discontinuities. Further kinematic as well as kinetic analyses are recommended incorporating minor discontinuities, water forces, earthquake forces etc. before making the final conclusions about the maximum safe slope angle for the shiplock region.     

Developing an algorithm for reconstruction of blocky systems in discontinuous media: two-dimensional analysis

Block detection is one of the most important steps in all discontinuous methods of analysis like Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) and Discrete Element Method (DEM). This is in fact a pre-processing step for those methods. In this study, a comprehensive computational algorithm, for tracing rock block created by discontinuities, has been developed. Using square matrices with integer elements and performing edge regularization step, reduce the size of the matrices due to elimination of unnecessary edges and vertices. Therefore speed and accuracy of block tracing operation will be increased. This algorithm is able to trace and identify all kind of blocks including convex and concave blocks formed by limited or unlimited fractures. The algorithm was programmed in C#.Net by over 3400 code lines and some cases were modeled by the code as example.     

基于布尔运算的复杂块体几何形态分析一般方法

提出采用布尔运算进行三维复杂块体形态分析的一般方法,并采用C++语言编写了相应的程序。块体布尔运算是将参与运算的主块体和客块体进行交、并或差运算,得到形态更加复杂的块体。为描述块体内部非贯通结构面,在块体数据结构中引入退化有向壳,允许块体中混合维度模型的存在。将主块体各面分别与客块体各面进行面-面求交线运算,通过环路分析得到各块体分割后的面。根据具体采用的布尔运算方法,确定有效面和无效面,并将有效面进行搜索得到新的壳和块体。选取3个算例和1个典型工程实例来验证该方法的可行性和应用性。计算结果表明,该方法可以生成形态更加复杂的块体,可以很方便地处理块体中的结构面,具有普遍性和适应性,并具有广泛的实际应用价值。     

Revisiting the accurate calculation of block-sample covariances using Gauss quadrature

Block-sample covariances may be calculated by discretizing a block into regularly spaced grid points, computing punctual covariance between each grid point and the sample, then averaging. Gauss quadrature is a better, more accurate method for calculating block-sample covariance as has been demonstrated in the past by other authors (the history of which is reviewed herein). This prior research is expanded upon to provide considerably more detail on Gauss quadrature for approximating the areal or volumetric integral for block-sample covariance. A 4 × 4 Gauss point rule is shown to be optimal for this procedure. Moreover, pseudo-computer algorithms are presented to show how to implement Gauss quadrature in existing computer programs which perform block kriging.     

弹粘塑性块体单元法在龙滩水电站右坝肩边坡稳定分析中的应用

介绍了三维弹粘塑性块体单元法的基本原理。该方法假定岩石块体为刚体,只考虑结构面的变形和强度特性。在建立块体系统的平衡方程、结构面的变形与块体位移的几何相容方程以及结构面上的弹粘塑性本构方程的基础上,出块体系统位移与稳定的基本方程。针对龙滩水电站右坝肩边坡地质条件复杂,块体稳定问题较为突出的情况,采用块体单元法计算了边坡中典型结构面切割形成的特定块体在不同工况下的强度储备安全系数,并针对结构面的几何参数和力学参数等重要影响因素进行了敏感性分析,为工程设计提供了依据。应用表明,作为一种新型的水工结构数值方法,块体单元法应用于复杂地质条件下的岩石高边坡的稳定和变形分析具有准确、适用和简便的特点。     

基于布尔交运算的三维流形单元生成研究

三维流形单元的生成是进行三维数值流形分析的首要问题之一。详细研究了三维流形单元的生成过程,并采用C++语言编写了相应的程序。借鉴二维流形单元的形成技术,基于拓扑学的“有向性”原理,将点、有向边、有向环、有向面和有向壳等作为三维块体的基本数据结构。将材料体和数学网格进行布尔交运算,并对形成的流形块体进行有效性检测,满足要求后即形成新的三维流形单元。每个数学网格的顶点作为新流形单元的数学覆盖,再对数学覆盖进行细分,形成流形单元的物理覆盖。分别选取凹形体、空心体和包含有限结构面的材料体与数学网格进行布尔交运算,并选取一个典型工程来检查该方法和程序的可行性。计算结果表明,该方法可以对复杂块体（凹形体、空心体和包含有限结构面的体）进行处理,为今后进行复杂结构计算和分析奠定基础,具有较强的适应性和可靠性。     

A Methodology for Predicting the In Situ Size and Shape Distribution of Rock Blocks

Summary In block caving, it is important to estimate the cavability of an ore body. This study proposes a new three dimensional (3D) model for predicting the characteristics of ore fragmentation in block caving, which is based on the Monte Carlo simulation technique. In this paper, the following subjects are discussed: sampling methods of discontinuity, 3D modeling algorithms and conceptualization for analyzing the distribution of discontinuities. In addition, the influence of each modeling parameter on the distribution of ore fragmentation was analyzed. The characteristics of ore fragmentation in a Northern China underground copper mine are used as a case study. Based on the methods discussed here, a software system named “MAKEBLOCK” was developed for analyzing the characteristics of discontinuities in an ore body and predicting the size distribution of ore fragments in block caving. The ore fragmentation attained by using this 3D model is in a good agreement with the field fragmentation measurements. Received November 30, 2001; accepted September 19, 2002; Published online February 25, 2003 Acknowledgement Support for this project came primarily from The National Science Foundation of China (approval No. 59704004). We would like to thank professor J. F. Archbald, head of Faculty of Mining Engineering, Queen's University, Canada, for his excellent advice and for checking the technical presentations of this paper. Authors' address: Dr. Liguan Wang, College of Resources and Safety Engineering, Central South University, Hunan, Changsha, China; e-mail: liguan_wang@hotmail.com     

一种新的节理裂隙岩体弹塑性模型

提出一种节理裂隙岩体弹塑性模型,将结构划分为块体单元和缝单元,其中缝单元可以是实际节理裂隙,也可以是人为缝单元。以块体单元形心的刚体位移和块体的平均应变作为基本未知量。该模型能充分考虑节理裂隙材料和块体材料的本构关系,计算量不大,是一种位移不协调单元。该模型特别适合节理裂隙岩体的数值分析。     

Analysis of single rock blocks for general failure modes under conservative and non‐conservative forces

After describing the kinematics of a generic rigid block subjected to large rotations and displacements, the Udwadia's General Principle of Mechanics is applied to the dynamics of a rigid block with frictional constraints to show that the reaction forces and moments are indeterminate. Thus, the paper presents an incremental‐iterative algorithm for analysing general failure modes of rock blocks subject to generic forces, including non‐conservative forces such as water forces. Consistent stiffness matrices have been developed that fully exploit the quadratic convergence of the adopted Newton–Raphson iterative scheme. The algorithm takes into account large block displacements and rotations, which together with non‐conservative forces make the stiffness matrix non‐symmetric. Also included in the algorithm are in situ stress and fracture dilatancy, which introduces non‐symmetric rank‐one modifications to the stiffness matrix. Progressive failure is captured by the algorithm, which has proven capable of detecting numerically challenging failure modes, such as rotations about only one point. Failure modes may originate from a limit point or from dynamic instability (divergence or flutter); equilibrium paths emanating from bifurcation points are followed by the algorithm. The algorithm identifies both static and dynamic failure modes. The calculation of the factor of safety comes with no overhead. Examples show the equilibrium path of a rock block that undergoes slumping failure must first pass through a bifurcation point, unless the block is laterally constrained. Rock blocks subjected to water forces (or other non‐conservative forces) may undergo flutter failure before reaching a limit point. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic stability analysis of a rock block using the block theory and Newmark method

Seismic stability analysis of a rock block is an important issue in the field of rock mechanics and rock engineering. To solve this problem, the block theory and the Newmark method are combined, and a general method for seismic response of a rock block is introduced. First, the formation method of a three-dimensional rock block, which includes establishing a topological relationship among the block-polygon face-edge-vertex and dividing a complex block into convex subblocks, is presented, and the simplex integration method is employed to calculate the volume of a rock block and the areas of the polygonal faces. Second, the assumptions and algorithms of the general method for seismic response of a rock block are detailed. The dynamic analysis is carried out in time step. In each time step, the key technologies including analysis of the seismic force and motion mode, trial of the incremental displacement, check for the block entrance, and update of the motion parameters are performed in order. Last, two verification examples and three application examples including a wedge, a rock block of slope, and a combined rock block are used to analyze the correctness and practicality of the general method. The results show that, for a given ground motion record, the Newmark program can effectively simulate the dynamic response process of the motion mode, velocity, and safety factor of the rock block, and the permanent displacement under the earthquake action is obtained, which provides a quantitative parameter to evaluate the dynamic stability of a rock block.     

Robust partitioned block preconditioners for large‐scale geotechnical applications with soil–structure interactions

Soil–structure interaction problems are commonly encountered in geotechnical practice and remarkably characterized with significant material stiffness contrast. When solving the soil–structure interaction problems, the employed Krylov subspace iterative method may converge slowly or even fail, indicating that the adopted preconditioning method may not suit for such problems. The inexact block diagonal preconditioners proposed recently have been shown effective for the soil–structure interaction problems; however, they haven't been exploited to full capabilities. By using the same partition strategy according to the structure elements and soil elements, the partitioned block symmetric successive over‐relaxation preconditioners or partitioned block constraint preconditioners are proposed. Based on two pile‐group foundation problems and a tunnel problem, the proposed preconditioners are evaluated and compared with the available preconditioners for the consolidation analysis and the drained analysis, respectively. In spite of one additional solve associated with the structure block and multiplications with off‐diagonal blocks in the preconditioning step, numerical results reveal that the proposed preconditioners obviously possess better performance than the recently developed inexact block preconditioners. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

岩体结构拉裂的块体单元法模拟

基于阶谱块体单元法,提出了二次覆盖的概念和一种分析岩石块体受拉开裂破坏的方法。该方法将块体及其一次覆盖在概念上细分为许多个积分子域,即二次覆盖。在二次覆盖上引入模糊裂纹模型,并把裂缝的形成视为一个粘塑性屈服流动过程,将开裂后产生的不平衡力进行转移,通过迭代使结构重新达到平衡。该方法既能考虑结构本身的不连续性,又能有效地模拟块体受拉开裂和裂纹扩展的现象。数值算例表明,计算结果基本合理。     

汤屯高速公路某变质砂岩边坡块体稳定性评价

汤屯高速公路存在大量变质砂岩组成的高边坡,岩体质量一般较好,但结构面发育,组合形成大量潜在失稳块体,这些块体的稳定性状况直接影响边坡安全.本文选取一个典型边坡,通过对边坡结构面详细地质素描,查明构成可能失稳块体的边界条件,并利用块体理论对可能失稳的块体在各种工况下的稳定性进行计算,并结合块体工程特性,对边坡的稳定性进行系统评价.该研究成果对该边坡的支护优化设计提供了基础资料,同时对同类型的边坡设计具有一定的指导意义.     

A rational and realistic rock mass modelling strategy for the stability analysis of blocky rock mass

Due to the importance of a realistic rock mass model for the achievement of accurate and reliable results from numerical analysis of blocky rock mass, a probability based rock mass geometrical model is proposed in the present study. The rock mass geometry is built based on site investigation data and stochastic analysis of the discontinuity mapping results. The discontinuities and/or sets of them, either finite or infinite in size, planar or non-planar, convex or concave in shape, can be implemented in the three-dimensional rock mass model. Key block analysis and support design are then suggested to the stochastic rock mass models. To achieve a realistic stability analysis of the rock mass with the proposed probabilistic rock mass model, a few suggestions have also been made. These include the adoption of realistic constitutive models to intact rock and rock discontinuities, use of numerical model to technically handle numerical difficulties and development of a realistic modelling strategy to achieve realistic and affordable computational cost, etc.     

Transverse and longitudinal fluid flow modelling in fractured porous media with non‐matching meshes

A new discrete fracture model is introduced to simulate the steady‐state fluid flow in discontinuous porous media. The formulation uses a multi‐layered approach to capture the effect of both longitudinal and transverse permeability of the discontinuities in the pressure distribution. The formulation allows the independent discretisation of mesh and discontinuities, which do not need to conform. Given that the formulation is developed at the element level, no additional degrees of freedom or special integration procedures are required for coupling the non‐conforming meshes. The proposed model is shown to be reliable regardless of the permeability of the discontinuity being higher or lower than the surrounding domain. Four numerical examples of increasing complexity are solved to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the new technique when compared with results available in the literature. Results show that the proposed method can simulate the fluid pressure distribution in fractured porous media. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis demonstrated the stability regarding the condition number for wide range values of the coupling parameter.