Development of Micro-Macro Continuum-Discontinuum Coupled Numerical Method

Gaofeng ZHAO

A micro-macro and continuum-discontinuum coupled model and corresponding computer codes are developed in this thesis for rock dynamics study.

Firstly, a new micromechanical model for describing the elastic continuum based on the underlying microstructure of material is proposed. The model provides a more general description of material than linear elasticity.

Then, a numerical model Distinct Lattice Spring Model (DLSM) is developed based on the RMIB theory. The new proposed model has the advantages of being meshless, and automatic continuum description through underlying discontinuum structure and directly using macroscopic elastic parameters.

Following this, the multi-scale DLSM (m-DLSM) is proposed to combine DLSM and NMM. The proposed model uses a tri-layer structure and the macro model can be automatically released into micro model during calculation.

Forth ward, the ability of DLSM on modeling dynamic failure is studied. A damage based micro constitutive law is developed. Relationships between the micro constitutive parameters and the macro mechanical parameters of material are provided. The micro parameters can directly be obtained from macro experimental results, i.e., tensile strength and fracture energy, through these equations.

Moreover, the ability of DLSM on modeling wave propagation is enhanced and verified. Non-reflection boundary condition and methods to represent discontinuity in DLSM are developed.

Finally, the parallelization of DLSM and 2D implicit DLSM are introduced. The main achievements of the whole PhD work and future research works are summarized and prospected in the conclusion part of the thesis.