Numerical simulation the fracture of rock in the framework of plastic-bond-based SPH and its applications

Abstract

In this paper, a two-dimensional numerical approach named plastic-bond-based smoothed particle hydrodynamics (PB-SPH) is proposed to simulate the fracture of rock with pre-existing flaws. Under the PB-SPH framework, interaction particles are interconnected through bonds. The Drucker–Prager criterion of a tensile zone cut-off coupled maximum tensile stress criterion is applied to judge shear failure and tensile failure. To verify the capability of the PB-SPH method in simulating rock fracture behavior, two-dimensional numerical simulations of a single flaw, two coplanar flaws, and multiple flaws of uniaxial compression are carried out. Compared with previous experimental and numerical results, the present numerical results show good agreements on crack initiation positions, crack morphology and crack patterns. The numerical simulation of the progressive failure process of rock slope with multiple flaws is carried out, which shows that the PB-SPH method can be well applied to rock mechanics engineering. The present results show that the PB-SPH method has a certain reference in the study of rock fracture mechanics and the application of rock mechanics engineering.