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Choosing a proper loading rate for bonded-particle model of intact rock

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Abstract

Bonded-particle model (BPM) is widely used to model geomaterials, in which calibration against the results from uniaxial/triaxial compressive tests, Brazilian tensile tests and shear tests have been commonly conducted. However, since different loading rates were used, it is difficult to assess the numerical results of these studies if the effects of the loading rate are ignored. This paper discusses the loading mechanisms associated with different loading rates in the BPM and examines the numerical outputs under these different rates. The results indicate that the time step is an important factor controlling the loading rate of the BPM and should be considered in addition to the velocity of the loading platen. The strain rate, which is usually employed to describe the loading rate in a physical test, cannot be used for the direct comparison of different numerical tests in \(\hbox {PFC}^{\mathrm{2D}}\) due to the time step. A proposed “step strain rate”, which considers the time step, is found to be more appropriate for comparing the loading velocity on specimens of varying sizes. Six different loading rates (0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.08, 0.2 and 0.6 m/s) are employed in uniaxial compressive tests and Brazilian tests during this study. After comprehensive examinations, a maximum step strain rate of \(1.1 \times 10^{-8}\, \hbox {step}^{-1}\) is considered to be appropriate for quasi-static uniaxial compressive tests and Brazilian tests using the BPM.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the Academic Research Fund Tier 1 (RG19/10) and the Nanyang Technological University Start Up Grant (M4080115.030). The first author was also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41302235).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Engineering Geomechanics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Xiao-Ping Zhang

  2. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N1, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Louis Ngai Yuen Wong

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  1. Xiao-Ping Zhang
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  2. Louis Ngai Yuen Wong
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Correspondence to Louis Ngai Yuen Wong.

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Xiao-Ping Zhang was formerly School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N1, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore.

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Zhang, XP., Wong, L.N.Y. Choosing a proper loading rate for bonded-particle model of intact rock. Int J Fract 189, 163–179 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-014-9968-y

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