Abstract

This work presents a partitioned method for landslide-generated wave events. The proposed strategy combines a Lagrangian Navier Stokes multi-fluid solver with an Eulerian method based on the Boussinesq shallow water equations. The Lagrangian solver uses the Particle Finite Element Method to model the landslide runout, its impact against the water body and the consequent wave generation. The results of this fully-resolved analysis are stored at selected interfaces and then used as input for the shallow water solver to model the far-field wave propagation. This one-way coupling scheme reduces drastically the computational cost of the analyses while maintaining high accuracy in reproducing the key phenomena of the cascading natural hazard. Several numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy and robustness of the proposed coupling strategy and its applicability to large-scale landslide-generated wave events. The validation of the partitioned method is performed versus available results of other numerical methods, analytical solutions and experimental measures.

Abstract

A new energy-dissipation-based rate-independent constitutive law within the framework of elastoplasticity coupled with damage is proposed. With this methodology, the inelastic strains and the stiffness degradation exhibited by quasi-brittle materials under monotonic or cyclic loading conditions are taken into account. The proposed constitutive model is able to capture micro-cracks closure-reopening effects due to load reversal. A wide variety of hardening/softening laws on the stress–strain relationship are described and considered for the novel normalized plastic-damage energy dissipation internal variable. This normalized internal variable allows the model to be independent on the sign of the load and dissipate different fracture energies (tensile, compressive and potentially shear) in a natural way. Several numerical examples are presented in order to ensure the efficiency and validity of the proposed model for simulating the non-linear behaviour of quasi-brittle materials under monotonic and cyclic loading. Some numerical aspects of the implemented algorithm and the return mapping procedure are also described in detail and discussed.

Abstract

We present a combination of the Finite Element Method (FEM), the Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM), and the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for modeling and analyzing the failure of reinforced concrete structures under impulsive wave forces originating from free-surface flows in critical water hazards. The free-surface water flow is modeled with the PFEM, while the structural behavior and the fractures induced by the water forces in the structure are modeled with a coupled FEM–DEM technique. The concrete material behavior is simulated with a standard isotropic damage model. The reinforcing bars are modeled by a rule of mixtures procedure, for simplicity. The possibilities of the new integrated PDFEM approach for predicting the evolution of free-surface tsunami-type waves and their devastating effect on constructions are validated with experiments on the failure of reinforced concrete plates under large impacting waves, performed in a laboratory facility in Japan.

Abstract

It is well known that in civil engineering structures are designed so that they remain, whenever possible, in an elastic regime and with their mechanical properties intact. The truth is that in reality there are uncertainties either in the execution of the work (geometric errors or material quality) or during its subsequent use (loads not contemplated or its value has been estimated incorrectly) that can lead to the collapse of the structure. This is why the study of the failure of structures is inherently interesting and, once is known, its design can be improved to be the less catastrophic as possible or to dissipate the maximum energy before collapsing. Another area of application of fracture mechanics is that of processes of which interest lies in the breakage or cracking of a medium. Within the mining engineering we can enumerate several processes of this nature, namely: hydraulic fracture processes or fracking, blasting for tunnels, explosion of slopes in open pit mines, among others. Equally relevant is the analysis of structural failures due to natural disasters, such as large avenues or even tsunamis impacting protection structures such as walls or dikes. In this work numerous implementations and studies have been made in relation to the mentioned processes. That said, the objective of this work is to develop an advanced numerical method capable of simulating multi-fracture processes in materials and structures. The general approach of the proposed method can be seen in various publications made by the author and directors of this work. This methodology is meant to cover the maximum spectrum of engineering applications possible. For this purpose, a coupled formulation of the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is used, which employs an isotropic damage constitutive model to simulate the initial degradation of the material and, once the strength of the material has been completely exhausted, those Finite Element (FE) are removed from the FEM mesh and a set of Discrete Element (DE) are generated at its nodes. In addition to ensure the conservation of the mass of the system, these DE prevent the indentation between the fissure planes thanks to the frictional repulsive forces calculated by the DEM, if any. Additionally, in this work it has been studied how the proposed coupled method named FEM-DEM together with the smoothing of stresses based on the super-convergent patch is able to obtain reasonably meshindependent results but, as one can imagine, the crack width is directly related to the size of the elements that have been removed. This favours the inclusion of an adaptive remeshing technique that will refine the mesh where it is required (according to the Hessian of a nodal indicator of interest) thus improving the discretization quality of the crack obtained and thereby optimizing the simulation cost. In this sense, the procedures for mapping nodal and internal variables as well as the calculation of the nodal variable of interest will be discussed. As far as the studies of natural disasters are concerned, especially those related to free-surface water flows such as tsunamis, one more level of coupling between the aforementioned method FEM-DEM and one Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) formulation commonly referred to as Particle Finite Element Method (PFEM) has been implemented. With this strong coupled formulation, many cases of wave impacts and fluid flows have been simulated against solid structures such as walls and dikes, among others.

Abstract

The results of a predictive analysis of the mock-up of a reactor containment building, based on computer numerical simulation, are presented in this paper and compared with the results obtained in the context of the VeRCoRs project during the 2015–2018 experimental campaign. The analysis is based on the Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures theory applied on a three-dimensional finite element model of the building. All the singular parts of the structure (two buttresses, the main penetrations, the gusset, etc.) and the complete prestressing tendons system are included in the structural model. The non-linear constitutive models used to describe the behaviour of the concrete, reinforcing steel and the tendons are formulated. A description of the Serial-Parallel Rule of Mixtures algorithm is also given. The structural response computed for the successive pressure tests applied on the mock-up are compared with the monitored structural behaviour. Finally, results for a simulation considering the aging of the tendon system during 40 years are shown and discussed.

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to develop a reliable method based on a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) model to simulate the constitutive behaviour of reinforced concrete structures strengthened with post-tensioned or pre-stressed tendons well beyond the elastic domain. The post-tensioned concrete is modelled as a composite material whose behaviour is described with the serial-parallel rule of mixtures (S-P RoM) (Rastellini et al., 2008; Martinez et al., 2008; Martinez et al., 2014 [3]) and the nonlinear behaviour of each component is accounted for by means of plasticity and damage models. 3D FE models were used, where the nonlinear material behaviour and geometrical analysis based on incremental-iterative load methods were adopted. Several examples are shown where the capabilities of the method on large scale structures are exhibited taking into account the self-weight, the post-tension load and different pressure loads. A new metric for computing the crack opening displacement inside a finite element is proposed.

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to develop a reliable method based on a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) model to simulate the constitutive behaviour of reinforced concrete structures strengthened with post-tensioned tendons taking into account the reduction of the pre-stressing stress due to the steel relaxation. The post-tensioned concrete is modelled as a composite material whose behaviour is described with the serial-parallel rule of mixtures (S/P RoM) (Rastellini et al, 2008; Martinez et al., 2008, 2014) whereas the stress relaxation of the steel is simulated using a viscoelastic model called Generalized Maxwell. A 3D FE model was used, where the nonlinear material behaviour and geometrical analysis based on incremental–iterative load methods were adopted. Validation by comparison with the analytic solution will be done for the case of a concrete beam with a linear steel tendon and for a parabolic pre-tensioned steel tendon embedded. Some viscoelastic cases are presented in order to perceive the behaviour of the Generalized Maxwell model. Several examples are shown where the capabilities of the method on large scale structures are exhibited.

Abstract

This paper extends to three dimensions (3D) the computational technique developed by the authors in 2D for predicting the onset and evolution of fracture in a finite element mesh in a simple manner based on combining the finite element method (FEM) and the discrete element method (DEM) approach Zarate2D. Once a crack is detected at an element edge, discrete elements are generated at the adjacent element vertexes and a simple DEM mechanism is considered in order to follow the evolution of the crack. The combination of the DEM with simple 4-noded linear tetrahedron elements correctly captures the onset of fracture and its evolution, as shown in several 3D examples of application.

Abstract

This document explains the operation of the user interface of the FEM2DEM program to analyse two-dimensional solids using the simple FEM-DEM procedure proposed by Zarate & Oñate [A simple FEM–DEM technique for fracture prediction in materials and structures. Comp. Part. Mech. (2015) 2: 301-314] that is used to predict the initiation and propagation of fractures .

Abstract

Este documento explica el funcionamiento de la interface de usuario del programa FEM2DEM para analizar sólidos bidimensionales utilizando el sencillo procedimiento FEM-DEM propuesto por Zarate & Oñate, ( A simple FEM–DEM technique for fracture prediction in materials and structures. Comp. Part. Mech. 2015  2: 301-314 ) que se utiliza para predecir el inicio y la propagación de fracturas .