Deformable spheropolygonal-based discrete element method for simulation of fracturing process

The deformable spheropolygonal-based discrete element method(DSDEM) was proposed to study the mechanism of the initiation, propagation and coalescence of cracks in engineering rook mass, and to simulate the whole process of contact and collision. The DSDEM was coupled with the finite element method(FEM) and the spheropolygonal-based discrete element method(SEM). The SEM was employed to calculate the interaction between discontinuous rock mass, and the stress and strain state inside the continuum was analyzed by the FEM. To exactly simulate the crack evolution process, joint elements were inserted between the finite element. The fictitious crack model and Mohr-Coulomb criterion were used to describe the mechanical states of joint elements in different failure modes such as tensile failure and shear failure. Finally, numerical simulations were performed on Brazilian disc test, single-edge notched beam test and block impact failure test. The results indicate that the proposed method can accurately simulate the whole failure process of rock mass from continuum to discontinuum. © 2023 Central South University of Technology. All rights reserved.