Micromechanical modeling of rock cutting under pressure boundary conditions using distinct element method

Simulation of rock cutting under a confining pressure was conducted using the distinct element method, a direct approach for modeling deformation and fracture. A rock specimen was generated with the mechanical properties closely matching those of the sample material used in this study, which is Carthage limestone. A methodology was developed to implement the pressure boundary conditions during the simulation. Two-dimensional rock cutting was simulated under various machining and confining pressure conditions. The effects of confining pressure on cutting force and chip formation were described. The distinct element method has been shown as a very powerful tool in rock cutting simulation and can provide insights on the tool-rock interactions during rock cutting.