Abstract

In this paper, a new methodology is described to evaluate the effect of open air explosions on equivalent structures to the facades of buildings. The structural damage is defined by vulnerability surfaces that are a function of the explosion magnitude, the distance to the structure and the detonation damage index developed in this article. The proposed index considers the structural load capacity degradation, the fracturing and the loss material due to the explosion. The structure is modeled by means of discrete elements (DEM) which allows describing the multifracturing state. The load capacity of the structure is quantified by a virtual compression test on the damaged structure. The forces on the structure caused by the explosion are modeled by a semi-empirical methodology, which avoids the fluid-dynamic analysis and reduces the computation time.

Abstract

The first step in a discrete element simulation is the discretization of the domain into a set of particles. The cost of generating a good cylindrical or spherical packing has resulted in a great number of approaches during the last years. A new algorithm is proposed for high‐density packing using a scheme that minimizes the distance between each particle. Using the support of a finite element mesh, less time is needed in order to achieve a low porosity configuration. In addition, a boundary constraint is introduced. The application of the same optimization scheme is used as a condition to force a good surface definition. The results obtained show a high efficiency for the generation of low porosity packing, achieving values smaller than 10% in 2D cases and 30% in 3D cases. 

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

We present recent developments in the coupling of the finite element method (FEM) and the discrete element method (DEM) for analysis of rock blasting operations in tunnels. The coupled FEM-DEM technique has proven to be an efficient procedure for predicting the multi-fracture of rock induced by the loads generated in blasting situations. The coupled FEM-DEM procedure is applied in the tunnel construction, as well as to gas pressure blasting pyrotechnics situations to break rock for excavation of the tunnel front. In the latter case the effect of gas explosion is modelled by solving with the FEM the equations of gas dynamics in the analysis domain. The effect of the gas forces in the underlying rock mass is modelled via an embedded fluid-structure interaction method. The efficiency of the coupled FEM-DEM technique is demonstrated in several examples of fracture tests and rock blasting problems related to tunnel engineering. The examples presented show that the combination of the DEM with simple 3-noded linear triangular elements (for 2D problems) correctly captures the onset of fractures and their evolution accounting for the penetration of the gas in the failure domain [[#cite-1|[1,2]]].

Abstract

In materials with a strain‐softening characteristic behavior, classical continuum mechanics favors uncontrolled strain localization in numerical analyses. Several methods have been proposed to regularize the problem. Two such localization limiters developed to overcome spurious instabilities in computational failure analysis are examined and compared. A disturbance analysis, on both models, is performed to obtain the closed‐form solution of propagating wave velocities as well as the velocities at which the energy travels. It also shows that in spite of forcing the same stress‐strain response, the wave equation does not yield similar results. Both propagations of waves are dispersive, but the internal length of each model is different when equivalent behavior is desired. In fact, the previously suggested derivations of gradient models from nonlocal integral models were not completely rigorous. The perturbation analysis is pursued in the discrete space where computations are done, and the closed form solutions are also obtained. The finite‐element discretization introduces an added dispersion associated to the regularization technique. Therefore, the influence of the discretization on the localization limiters can be evaluated. The element size must be smaller than the internal length of the models in order to obtain sufficient accuracy.

Abstract

This paper presents a new computational technique for predicting the onset and evolution of fracture in a continuum in a simple manner combining the finite element method (FEM) and the discrete element method (DEM). Once a crack is detected at an element side in the FE mesh, discrete elements are generated at the nodes sharing the side and a simple DEM mechanism is considered to follow the evolution of the crack. The combination of the DEM with simple 3-noded linear triangular elements correctly captures the onset of fracture and its evolution, as shown in several examples of application in two and three dimensions.

Abstract