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Comparative investigation of shear-band evolution using discrete and continuum-based particle methods

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Abstract

Both discrete and continuous computational methods are commonly used for model-based simulation of failure evolution. Molecular dynamics (MD) and the finite element method (FEM) are representative discrete particle and continuous methods, respectively. The Material Point Method (MPM) is a continuum-based particle method that is formulated based on the weak form of the governing equations in a way similar to the FEM. Here, we report a comparative study of shear-band evolution as predicted by all-atom MD, coarse-grain MD (in which several atoms are subsumed into a single effective particle), and MPM. Overall features of the responses at different scales are summarized, along with a discussion of similarities and differences among the results obtained via the three spatial discretization approaches. This work could serve as a benchmark example for developing multiscale geomechanics under extreme loading scenarios such as earth penetration and underground explosions.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the suggestions and/or comments from both the reviewers and editor to improve the manuscript quality.

Funding

This work was partially supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Laboratory [Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, MS].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Yu-Chen Su & Zhen Chen

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, 320, Taiwan

    Yu-Chen Su

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Tommy Sewell

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Correspondence to Zhen Chen.

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Su, YC., Sewell, T. & Chen, Z. Comparative investigation of shear-band evolution using discrete and continuum-based particle methods. Acta Geotech. 16, 2337–2354 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01150-8

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