A compact 3D block cutting and contact searching algorithm

Abstract

The geometry relation and the contact point-pairs detection between two three dimensional (3D) objects with arbitrary shapes are essential problems involved in discontinuous computation and computational geometry. This paper reported a geometry relation judgment and contact searching algorithm based on Contact Theory. A contact cover search algorithm is proposed to find all the possible contact cover between two blocks. Two blocks can come to contact only on these covers. Each contact cover can define a possible contact point-pair between two blocks. Data structure and flow chart are provided, as well as some examples in details. Contact problems involving concave blocks or parallel planes are considered to be very difficult in past and are solved by this algorithm. The proposed algorithm is compacted and applicable to the discontinuous computation, such as robotic control, rock mass stability, dam stability etc. A 3D cutting and block searching algorithm is also proposed in this study and used to search the outer boundary of the 3D entrance block when 3D concave blocks are encountered. The 3D cutting and block searching algorithm can be also used to form the block system for jointed rock.