Displacement field analysis for cracking processes in bonded-particle model

Abstract

Bonded-particle model (BPM) is widely used to model the cracking processes in rock/rock-like materials. However, the discrete particles in the BPM cannot produce a continuous displacement field, which is comparable with those in physical experiments and numerical method such as the finite element method. Displacement trend lines are introduced to analyze the displacement field type of the BPM in the present study. Three displacement field types (DF_I, DF_II and DF_III) are defined and used in the analysis of the cracking processes. The study shows that the type of displacement field may evolve during the cracking processes. Researchers are advised to examine the displacement field before and right after a particular crack has formed. An examination of the associated type of displacement field can help reveal the nature of the crack. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.