Discrete element model for quasi‐brittle rupture under tensile and compressive loading

In the absence of initial cracks, the material behavior is limited by its strength, usually defined in homogeneous conditions (of stress and strain). Beyond this limit, in quasi‐brittle case, cracks may propagate and the material behavior tends to be well described by fracture mechanics. Discrete element approaches show consistent results dealing with this transition during rupture. However, the calibration of the parameters of the numerical models (i.e., stiffness, strength, and toughness) may be quite complex and sometimes only approximative. Based on a brittle rupture criterion, we analyze the biaxial response of uncracked samples. Thus, tensile and compressive strengths are analytically identified and become direct parameters of our discrete model. Furthermore, a physically reliable crack initiation (and subsequent propagation) is shown to be induced during rupture and verified by the simulation of three‐point bending and diametral compression tests. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coupled bonded particle and lattice Boltzmann method for modelling fluid–solid interaction

This paper presents a two‐dimensional coupled bonded particle and lattice Boltzmann method (BPLBM) developed to simulate the fluid–solid interactions in geomechanics. In this new technique, the bonded particle model is employed to describe the inter‐particle movement and forces, and the bond between a pair of contacting particles is assumed to be broken when the tensile force or tangential force reaches a certain critical value. As a result the fracture process can be delineated based on the present model for the solid phase comprising particles, such as rocks and cohesive soils. In the meantime, the fluid phase is modelled by using the LBM, and the immersed moving boundary scheme is utilized to characterize the fluid–solid interactions. Based on the novel technique case studies have been conducted, which show that the coupled BPLBM enjoys substantially improved accuracy and enlarged range of applicability in characterizing the mechanics responses of the fluid–solid systems. Indeed such a new technique is promising for a wide range of application in soil erosion in Geotechnical Engineering, sand production phenomenon in Petroleum Engineering, fracture flow in Mining Engineering and fracture process in a variety of engineering disciplines. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling of fluid–solid interaction in granular media with coupled lattice Boltzmann/discrete element methods: application to piping erosion

In this article, we present a numerical method to deal with fluid–solid interactions and simulate particle–fluid systems as encountered in soils. This method is based on a coupling between two methods, now widely used in mechanics of granular media and fluid dynamics respectively: the discrete element (DE) method and the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method. The DE method is employed to model interactions between particles, whereas the LB method is used to describe an interstitial Newtonian fluid flow. The coupling presented here is a full one in the sense that particle motions act on fluid flow and reciprocally. This article presents in details each of the two methods and the principle of the coupling scheme. Determination of hydrodynamic forces and torques is also detailed, and the treatment of boundaries is explained. The coupled method is finally illustrated on a simple example of piping erosion, which puts in evidence that the combined LB–DE scheme constitutes a promising tool to study coupled problems in geomechanics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Are there any relict rock glaciers in the British mountains?

The existence of a small population of ‘relict rock glaciers’ scattered across the main British mountain areas has previously been inferred from published cases of individual sites or local clusters. Discrete debris accumulations (DDAs) of widely differing character have been identified as ice‐debris landforms (whether ‘rock glaciers’ or ‘protalus lobes’) partly from morphological, sedimentological and topo‐locational evidence, but principally by analogy with both active and relict examples in present‐day arctic/alpine environments, with consequent palaeoclimate inferences. However, re‐interpretation of several supposed rock glaciers as rock slope failures has cast doubt on both the palaeoclimatic reconstructions and the origin of the remaining features. Issues of polygenesis and mimicry/equifinality have contributed to some previous misidentifications. We re‐evaluate the 28 candidate cases based on new field and image‐analysis evidence and place them on a continuum from no ice presence through passive ice presence and glacial shaping to emplacement onto glacier ice with consequent melt‐out topography. A null hypothesis approach (that there are no relict rock glaciers in the British mountains) is pursued, and the evidence indicates that none of the 28 cases clearly warrants classification as a relict rock glacier; their characteristics can be explained without recourse to any significant forward debris movement controlled or facilitated by incorporated or underlying ice as it deforms and melts out. However, only one‐third of the candidate DDAs are attributed in whole or part to rock slope failure (sensu stricto), with other debris sources including incremental rockfall, bedrock knolls with coarse debris veneer, protalus rampart and moraine. A few cases deserve more detailed investigation of their structure, morphology and sediments within a broader local glaciological/topographical context, with multitemporal/polygenetic evolution in mind. But it is for future researchers to demonstrate that deforming ice played an incontestable part in shaping these often enigmatic DDAs, given that other causes are simpler and commoner. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the failure of a discrete axial chain using a continualized nonlocal Continuum Damage Mechanics approach

The failure of a discrete elastic‐damage axial system is investigated using both a discrete and an equivalent continuum approach. The Discrete Damage Mechanics approach is based on a microstructured model composed of a series of periodic elastic‐damage springs (axial Discrete Damage Mechanics lattice system). Such a discrete damage system can be associated with the finite difference formulation of a Continuum Damage Mechanics evolution problem. Several analytical and numerical results are presented for the tensile failure of this axial damage chain under its own weight. The nonlocal Continuum Damage Mechanics models examined in this paper are mainly built from a continualization procedure applied to centered or uncentered finite difference schemes. The asymptotic expansion of the first‐order upward difference equations leads to a first‐order nonlocal model, whereas the asymptotic expansion of the centered finite difference equations leads to a second‐order nonlocal Eringen's approach. To complete this study, a phenomenological nonlocal gradient approach is also examined and compared with the first continualization methods. A comparison of the discrete and the continuous problems for the chains shows the effectiveness of the new micromechanics‐based nonlocal Continuum Damage modeling, especially for capturing scale effects. For both continualized approaches, the length scale of the nonlocal models depends only on the cell size, while for the so‐called phenomenological approach, the length scale may depend on the loading parameter. This apparent load‐dependent length scale, already discussed in the literature with numerical arguments, is found to be sensitive to the postulated structure of the nonlocal model calibrated according to a lattice approach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水压致裂起裂压力的细观离散元模拟及试验研究

水压致裂起裂压力的预测对于油气开采、地应力测量、水工结构物抗裂设计等具有重要的意义。采用颗粒离散元结合域-管道渗流模型的流固耦合非连续数值模拟方法,基于扩展前端法生成的含规则形状钻孔的颗粒体模型,对水压致裂的细观起裂过程和起裂压力大小进行了定量模拟。结果表明,在消除了颗粒体中钻孔形状不规则性的基础上,钻孔壁的接触力链分布与理论解较为一致,拟合的离散元起裂压力公式也与理论解较为接近。进一步地,从颗粒材料受挤压时产生局部张拉力的角度解释了起裂压力拟合公式与理论解之间的差别。最后,设计了含预制钻孔的抗渗砂浆试块制备方法,对不同主应力组合下的起裂压力大小进行了真三轴室内试验,验证了离散元模拟结果的可靠性。     

Discrete Element Modeling of a Subduction Zone with a Seafloor Irregularity and its Impact on the Seismic Cycle

Seafloor irregularities influence rupture behavior along the subducting slab and in the overriding plate, thus affecting earthquake cycles. Whether seafloor irregularities increase the likelihood of large earthquakes in a subduction zone remains contested, partially due to focus put either on fault development or on rupture pattern. Here, we simulate a subducting slab with a seafloor irregularity and the resulting deformation pattern of the overriding plate using the discrete element method. Our simulations illustrate the rupture along three major fault systems: megathrust, splay and backthrust faults. Our results show different rupture dimensions of earthquake events varying from tens to ca. 140 km. Our results suggest that the recurrence interval of megathrust events with rupture length of ca. 100 km is ca. 140 years, which is overall comparable to the paleoseismic records at the Mentawai area of the Sumatran zone. We further propose the coseismic slip amounts decrease and interseismic slip amounts increase from the surface downwards gradually.     

RB模式下砂土非极限主动土压力的离散元模拟与理论研究

针对刚性挡土墙绕墙底向外位移(RB)模式下砂土非极限主动土压力分布问题,采用离散元数值模拟对砂土的主动破坏过程进行分析。研究结果表明,非极限主动状态下,不同深度处土体内摩擦角变成极限值时,该点所需的水平位移近似相同,约为0.03%H,墙-土摩擦角至极限值时该点所需的水平位移S_δ近似与深度z呈线性关系,即S_δ=0.12%z;挡墙位移过程中,墙后土体中存在多个相互平行的“准滑动面”。根据模拟结果,在Liu提出的摩擦角调动值计算公式基础上进行了修正,并利用斜微分单元法,取墙后土楔体中平行于滑动面的薄层作为斜微分单元,建立了非极限主动状态下单元体静力平衡方程,得到了RB模式下挡墙不同位移量时非极限主动土压力计算公式。将计算结果与模拟结果和模型试验实测数据进行对比,验证了理论公式的合理性。     

砂土海床中海底管道贯入阻力演化特征及细观机制研究

理解海底管道竖向贯入过程是科学评估管道安装期间初始埋深及服役期间安全性和稳定性分析的关键。通过土工离心机模型试验,结合离散元数值分析研究了真实应力水平下不同密实度砂土中海底管道竖向贯入阻力演化特征及细观机制。研究结果显示,对于中密砂,管道贯入阻力曲线主要表现为硬化特征;对于密砂,贯入阻力曲线整体上呈现周期性软化特征,且埋深越大,软化程度越大。离散元计算分析表明,造成该现象的原因是不同密实度砂土中管道贯入的土体流动及破坏机制不同,且贯入阻力的演化与剪切带的形成与发展密切相关。利用现行海底管道设计规范评估密砂中管道埋深时应充分考虑其贯入阻力随深度的演化特征,当管道埋深初步评估大于0.1D(D为管径)时,应结合计算结果上下限值合理预测管道埋深。     

Discrete element analysis of breakage of irregularly shaped railway ballast

In order to reduce the maintenance costs of ballasted railway track and improve passenger comfort, the railway ballast particle breakage and its effect on track settlement need to be better understood. The failure process of individual railway ballast loaded between flat platens is simulated using the discrete element method, considering its irregular shape with the incorporation of parallel bonds. The tensile strength, the stress of a survival probability of 37% of samples, is obtained and compared with laboratory results from published literature for the verification of DEM simulations. The evolution to failure of the particle is understood from the stress-strain curve and progressive failure modes. The internal breakage mechanisms are analysed by tracking the accumulation of bond breakage number and the contact force distributions.