Shortest link method for contact detection in discrete element method

With the increasing demand for discrete element simulations with larger number of particles and more realistic particle geometries, the need for efficient contact detection algorithms is more evident. To date, the class of common plane (CP) methods is among the most effective and widely used contact detection algorithms in discrete element simulations of polygonal and polyhedral particles. This paper introduces a new approach to obtain the CP by employing a newly introduced concept of ‘shortest link’. Among all the possible line segments that connect any point on the surface of particle A to any point on the surface of particle B, the one with the shortest length defines the shortest link between the two particles. The perpendicular bisector plane of the shortest link fulfils all the conditions of a CP, suggesting that CP can be obtained by seeking the shortest link. A new algorithm, called shortest link method (SLM), is proposed to obtain the shortest link and subsequently the CP between any two polyhedral particles. Comparison of the analysis time between SLM and previously introduced algorithms demonstrate that SLM results in a substantial speed up for polyhedral particles contact detection. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Discrete element modeling of dynamic behaviors of railway ballast under cyclic loading with dilated polyhedra

The dynamic behaviors of railway ballast under cyclic loading are simulated with discrete element method (DEM). Dilated polyhedra are constructed based on the Minkowski sum operator in order to resemble the irregular shapes of ballast particles. The polyhedral particle generation, contact detection between particles and contact laws are presented. Ballast box tests with periodic lateral boundaries are conducted to simulate the dynamics of the sleeper and ballast particles. The settlement and effective stiffness of ballast bed are investigated under cyclic loadings with five distinct frequencies. The settlement of ballast bed is significant in the first several cycles and increases with the number of cycles gradually. The higher frequency loading generates larger displacement in the same simulation time. The effective stiffness of ballast bed increases gradually. To study the effect of particles' sharpness, dilated polyhedra with different dilating radii and spherical particles are also developed. Simulation results show the sharper the ballast particles are, the smaller the produced settlement. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Granular element method for three‐dimensional discrete element calculations

This paper endows the recently‐proposed granular element method (GEM) with the ability to perform 3D discrete element calculations. By using non‐uniform rational B‐Splines to accurately represent complex grain geometries, we proposed an alternative approach to clustering‐based and polyhedra‐based discrete element methods whereby the need for complicated and ad hoc approaches to construct 3D grain geometries is entirely bypassed. We demonstrate the ability of GEM in capturing arbitrary‐shaped 3D grains with great ease, flexibility, and without excessive geometric information. Furthermore, the applicability of GEM is enhanced by its tight integration with existing non‐uniform rational B‐Splines modeling tools and ability to provide a seamless transition from binary images of real grain shapes (e.g., from 3D X‐ray CT) to modeling and discrete mechanics computations.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coupled three-dimensional discrete element-lattice Boltzmann methods for fluid-solid interaction with polyhedral particles

Interaction between solid particles and fluid is of fundamental interest to scientists and engineers in many different applications—cardiopulmonary flows, aircraft and automobile aerodynamics, and wind loading on buildings to name a few. In geomechanics, particle shape significantly affects both particle-particle and particle-fluid interaction. Herein, we present a generalized method for modeling the interaction of arbitrarily shaped polyhedral particles and particle assemblages with fluid using a coupled discrete element method (DEM) and lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) formulation. The coupling between DEM and LBM is achieved through a new algorithm based on a volume-fraction approach to consider three-dimensional convex polyhedral particles moving through fluid. The algorithm establishes the interaction using linear programming and simplex integration and is validated against experimental data. This approach to modeling the interaction between complex polyhedral particles and fluid is shown to be accurate for directly simulating hydrodynamic forces on the particles.     

椭圆形颗粒堆积体模拟颗粒材料力学性能的离散元数值方法

针对离散元中圆形颗粒模拟出的内摩擦角小于真实砂土内摩擦角的缺陷,将已有NS2D离散元程序中的圆形颗粒参量改进为椭圆形颗粒参量,形成改进的NS2D程序。介绍了改进后NS2D程序的基本力学模型,详细推导了程序中椭圆颗粒间以及椭圆颗粒与墙之间接触点的力-位移关系。利用改进后的离散元程序分别模拟了恒定围压下长短轴比例分别为1.1:1、1.4:1,孔隙比均为0.19的椭圆颗粒堆积体的双轴试验,所得的内摩擦角在真实砂土的内摩擦角范围之内,且其应力特征与已有成果吻合良好,证明了改进后的NS2D离散元程序能够模拟分析真实砂土的力学性能     

粗粒料多边形表征及二维FEM/DEM分析

考虑到颗粒形状对粗粒料的力学特性有重大影响,提出了一种新的表征颗粒形状的方法,即在椭圆上随机选取一系列点连接成多边形颗粒,表征狭长扁平的颗粒。新方法较圆上取点的方法能代表更多类型的颗粒形状,适用范围更广。提出了一种新的粗粒料投放算法,即先缩小颗粒,然采用随机算法将缩小的颗粒投放至给定区域,对颗粒划分好网格后,将颗粒放大到原来的大小,然后采用有限元-离散元(FEM/DEM)方法计算稳定后即生成了相应的试样。通过将上述颗粒生成及投放算法与FEM/DEM结合,应用于粗粒料的数值模拟。分析表明,FEM/DEM是研究粗粒料力学性质的较好方法,对复杂的颗粒形状也可简单建模,且因在颗粒内部划分了有限元网格,复杂的接触判断及接触力计算转化为标准统一的三角形和三角形之间的接触判断及接触力计算,所有的计算均可标准化、统一化。同时因为颗粒是可以变形的,依然保留了连续介质力学中应力和应变的概念,无须像PFC那样需通过测量圆来间接表示某点的应力、应变。最后,通过粗粒料的侧限压缩试验的数值模拟,展现了文中提出的一整套解决方案在模拟粗粒料方面的巨大潜力。     

基于离散单元法的滑坡堆积及其涌浪计算

采用离散单元法对水库库岸边坡的动态破坏过程进行了研究,给出了计算流程并开发了相应的软件。介绍了离散单元法的基本原理,分析了常用的计算滑坡速度方法的不足及用离散单元法的优势,基于离散单元法提供的块体运动信息并结合波动方程模拟了滑坡体滑入水库时所激起的涌浪。此外,采用离散单元法研究了滑坡的堆积形状。通过算例验证了方法的可行性与程序的正确性。算例结果表明：块体在坡面上运动时,用离散单元法计算得到的块体的速度和能量法与潘家铮法一致,且更方便、更高效;由于涌浪的叠加,多个块体所激起的涌浪高度比单个块体的涌浪高一些,这表明在进行涌浪分析时,考虑多块体的涌浪叠加效应是至关重要的,滑坡的堆积形状为滑坡的灾害评估提供了依据。通过自行开发的离散单元法软件模拟了块体的滑动和涌浪的产生及其传播过程,其模拟结果为研究边坡的滑动破坏的启动、破坏过程及滑坡的风险评价提供了新的思路。     

Three-dimensional discrete element method parallel computation of Cauchy stress distribution over granular materials

The paper presents Cauchy stress tensor computation over parallel grids of message passing interface (MPI) parallel three-dimensional (3D) discrete element method (DEM) simulations of granular materials, considering spherical and nonspherical particles. The stress tensor computation is studied for quasi-static and dynamic conditions, and its resulting symmetry or asymmetry is discussed within the context of classical continuum mechanics (CCM), granular materials mechanics (GMM), and micropolar continuum mechanics (MCM). The average Cauchy stress tensor computation follows Bagi's and Nicot's formulations and is verified within MPI parallel 3D DEM simulations involving dynamically adaptive compute grids. These grids allow calculation of temporal and spatial distributions of stress across granular materials under static and dynamic conditions. The vertical stress component in gravitationally deposited particle assemblies exhibits nonuniform spatial distributions under static equilibrium, and its zone of maximum value changes during the process of gravitational pluviation and collapse. These phenomena reveal a microstructural effect on stress distribution within granular materials that is attributed to their discrete particulate nature (particle size, shape, gradation, boundary conditions, etc).     

Analysis of mechanical behaviour and internal stability of granular materials using discrete element method

Granular materials like sand are widely used in civil engineering. They are composed of different sizes of grains, which generate a complex behaviour, difficult to assess experimentally. Internal instability of a granular material is its inability to prevent the loss of its fine particles under flow effect. It is geometrically possible if the fine particles can migrate through the pores of the coarse soil matrix and results in a change in its mechanical properties. This paper uses the three‐dimensional Particle Flow Code (PFC3D/DEM) to study the stability/instability of granular materials and their mechanical behaviour after suffusion. Stability properties of widely graded materials are analysed by simulating the transport of smaller particles through the constrictions formed by the coarse particles under the effect of a downward flow with uniform pressure gradient. A sample made by an initially stable material according to the Kenney & Lau geometrical criterion was divided into five equal layers. The classification of these layers by this criterion before and after the test shows that even stable granular materials can lose fine particles and present local instability. The failure criterion of eroded samples, in which erosion is simulated by progressive removal of fine particles, evolves in an unexpected way. Internal friction angle increases with the initial porosity, the rate of lost fine particles and the average diameter D₅₀. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of stress strain non-uniformities in the laboratory direct simple shear test specimens using 3D discrete element analysis

The direct simple shear (DSS) device is one of the commonly used laboratory element testing tools to characterize the shear behaviour of soil. The interpretation of results from an element test requires understanding of the degree of stress and strain non-uniformities in a given test specimen. So far, studies on stress and strain non-uniformities in the DSS test have been conducted using direct boundary measurements of stresses in laboratory specimens supported by a continuum based analytical approach. Discrete element modelling now provides a means of modelling the soil behaviour in a realistic manner using a particulate approach. Accordingly, the performance of a DSS specimen was modelled using discrete element modelling with emphasis on assessing stress and strain non-uniformities in the specimen during shearing. The approach allowed for the numerical determination of stresses not only at the boundaries, but also within the DSS specimen. It was shown that mobilised stress ratio distribution throughout the shearing phase for the majority of specimen volume at locations near the central planes parallel and perpendicular to the direction of shearing is fairly uniform. Finally, it was noted that the potential for particle slippage at locations near the specimen centre can result in non-uniform shear strain distributions.     

离散元计算的位移控制方法

基于离散单元的动态松弛法,提出了由每循环步允许块体最大位移增量控制每步块体求解的方法--位移控制法。该方法通过对块体的位移试算来决定时步的大小,不仅解决了离散元计算中的如叠合过大等问题,还可以提高计算的精度和效率。编制了相应的程序和程序流程图,并给出了算例分析。     

基于离散元法的静止土压力系数分析

采用三维离散元法（DEM）对不同初始孔隙比的粒状土进行一维压缩 试验模拟。对比了传统定义静止土压力系数 以及增量型定义静止土压力系数 ,分析了静止土压力系数的影响因素（初始应力状态、初始孔隙比和应力历史）,检验了Jaky公式及Mayne和Kulhawy公式的适用性。结果表明,对于初始等向围压试样,随着竖向压力的增大, 减小,则 先增大到峰值后再减小;对于初始 状态试样, 、 随着竖向压力的增大均减小。 、 分别在竖向压力达到初始等向围压6～10倍及4倍左右达到稳定值,即真实的 值; 、 随孔隙比减小而明显减小。应力历史对 有显著影响,对于相同应力状态的加载和卸载阶段 差别很大。Jaky公式及Mayne和Kulhawy公式计算结果与数值模拟结果有一定差 异,采用峰值摩擦角比采用残余摩擦角的公式计算结果更接近数值模拟结果。     

大冶铁矿露天转地下开采的离散元数值模拟研究

离散单元方法特别适合于节理比较发育的岩体。对于模拟和分析矿山中因采矿引起的围岩松动和冒落等力学行为是比较有效的。用离散单元法研究了大冶铁矿狮子山采区露天转地下开采，采用充填法、崩落法采掘对露天边坡和围岩的影响及围岩变形规律，并得出了相应的结论，为设计和方案的选用提供了一些有益的根据。     

A virtual experiment technique on the elementary behaviour of granular materials with discrete element method

Multi‐scale investigations aided by the discrete element method (DEM) play a vital role for current state‐of‐the‐art research on the elementary behaviour of granular materials. Similar to laboratory tests, there are three important aspects to be considered carefully, which are the proper stress/strain definition and measurement, the application of target loading paths and the designed experiment setup, to be addressed in the present paper. Considering the volume sensitive characteristics of granular materials, in the proposed technique, the deformation of the tested specimen is controlled and measured by deformation gradient tensor involving both the undeformed configuration and the current configuration. Definitions of Biot strain and Cauchy stress are adopted. The expressions of them in terms of contact forces and particle displacements, respectively, are derived. The boundary of the tested specimen consists of rigid massless planar units. It is suggested that the representative element uses a convex polyhedral (polygonal) shape to minimize possible boundary arching effects. General loading paths are described by directly specifying the changes in the stress/strain invariants or directions. Loading can be applied in the strain‐controlled mode by specifying the translations and rotations of the boundary units, or in the stress‐controlled mode by using a servo‐control mechanism, or in the combination of the two methods to realize mixed boundary conditions. Taking the simulation results as the natural consequences originated from a complex system, virtual experiments provide particle‐scale information database to conduct multi‐scale investigations for better understanding in granular material behaviours and possible development of the constitutive theories provided the qualitative similarity between the simulation results from virtual experiments and observations on real material behaviour. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

丰都名山崩滑体失稳的离散元模拟

以丰都名山崩滑体为研究对象,拟通过对该崩滑体失稳破坏过程的离散元模拟分析,达到对该崩滑体的稳定性进行有效分析评价的目的。研究结果发现,崩滑体的滑移崩塌过程及散落情况与其坡脚是否风化剥蚀相关,且不论坡脚是否风化剥蚀,其上部块体的运动轨迹与中下部块体的运动轨迹存在着明显差异。分析结果同时还表明,丰都名山崩滑体的确存在滑移崩塌危险,应积极采取适当防范措施。     

基于统一标定的势接触力计算

传统的离散元类数值方法存在处理角-角接触时接触力方向不确定、三维情形时接触计算极其复杂等问题。Munjiza提出的基于势的接触力计算方法很好地解决了这一问题,但同时存在势的物理意义不明确,计算出的接触力与物理直观不符、相同嵌入量计算的接触力大小不一致等问题。在已有研究的基础上,提出了一种基于统一标定的势接触力计算方法,该方法重新定义了势函数,即三角形单元内一点的势与该点到3条边的最短距离成正比。采用这种势函数定义可以对嵌入量进行统一表征。在相同的嵌入量下,计算的接触力大小是一致的,同时保留基于势的接触力计算方法所有优点。新定义的势函数,解决了原有势函数所存在的重大缺陷,只要重叠区域不变,计算的总接触力是不变的,接触力计算具有局部特性,而与划分的三角形单元的整体形状和大小无关,即新的接触力计算方法,具有更好的网格鲁棒性。该方法使得基于势的接触力计算方法建立在坚实的物理基础之上,意义重大。     

青藏铁路填土路基热-力耦合离散元研究

多年冻土是含有冰的特殊土体,在自然环境变化及工程扰动下易发生冻胀融沉变形,严重威胁着青藏高原工程建筑物的安全稳定,特别对青藏铁路的畅通运营提出了严峻挑战.以青藏铁路五道梁地区路基断面为研究对象,采用颗粒离散单元法,通过建立热-力离散元计算模型,对路基的温度场和变形进行了计算和预测.结果表明:离散单元法克服了有限元方法无...