Modeling Wave Propagation in Rock Masses Using the Contact Potential-Based Three-Dimensional Discontinuous Deformation Analysis Method

Abstract

The most recently proposed three-dimensional (3D) contact potential-based discontinuous deformation analysis (3D-CPDDA) method is further applied for wave propagation problems in rock masses. A viscous non-reflecting boundary is incorporated into the 3D-CPDDA method to minimize the wave reflections. Furthermore, a force input method is incorporated to eliminate the contamination of scattered waves in the numerical solution and to accurately input the incident wave. Several benchmark problems about P-wave/S-wave propagation in homogeneous rock masses and jointed rock masses are solved to validate the modified 3D-CPDDA method. The numerical results assessed by the modified 3D-CPDDA method agree well with those obtained from analytical methods, which means that the modified 3D-CPDDA method can reliably and correctly simulate wave propagation in rock masses. The modified 3D-CPDDA method warrants further investigation.