Investigation of the Anisotropic Characteristics of Layered Rocks under Uniaxial Compression Based on the 3D Printing Technology and the Combined Finite-Discrete Element Method

Fan He,Penghai Deng,Quansheng Liu

doi:10.1155/2020/8793214

Fan He, Penghai Deng + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8793214

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Abstract

The excavation in layered rocks is an issue for a number of geoengineering applications; these kinds of rocks all exhibit transverse isotropic features due to the process of metamorphic differentiation. This paper focuses on providing two methods, i.e., the 3D printing technology and the combined finite-discrete element method, to simulate the anisotropic characteristics of layered rocks. The results showed that both the 3D-printed samples and the FDEM numerical models are considered as a good match, and both revealed that as the inclined angle increased, the UCS of the sample first decreased and then increased, showing a U-shaped pattern. The results of this paper served as a reference to the promotion of the 3D printing technology and the combined finite-discrete element method in the geotechnical engineering field and laboratory test research.

Highlights

Shale formations widely exist in nature. ese kinds of rocks, including schists, sandstones, shales, and basalts, all exhibit features of transverse isotropic, which means that these materials all show the same phenomenon along a certain plane
Laboratory tests and numerical tests were performed using the 3D printing technology and the combined finite-discrete element method. By combining these two methods, the anisotropic mechanical behaviors of natural shale rock formations were studied. e structure of this paper is as follows: In Section 2, we introduce the equipment which is needed in the laboratory test
Similar to the traditional discrete element modeling method, there are some microscopic parameters defined in the finite-discrete element method (FDEM) which cannot be measured through laboratory tests, and these parameters have important effects on the macroscopic mechanical performance of rock models. e FDEM input parameter calibration procedure proposed by Tatone et al [36, 37] was used to calibrate these parameters

Summary

Introduction

Shale formations widely exist in nature. ese kinds of rocks, including schists, sandstones, shales, and basalts, all exhibit features of transverse isotropic, which means that these materials all show the same phenomenon along a certain plane. Laboratory tests and numerical tests were performed using the 3D printing technology and the combined finite-discrete element method By combining these two methods, the anisotropic mechanical behaviors of natural shale rock formations were studied. On this basis, by changing the direction of 3D printing, the anisotropic characteristics of natural shale rock formations are simulated.

Equipment and Methodology

Anisotropy in 3D-Printed Samples

Numerical Simulation

Findings

Conclusion