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Numerical investigation of the effect of grain size-to-particle size ratio on the dynamic fracture toughness of granite by using PFC3D-GBM

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Abstract

Based on the Particle Flow Code, a novel grain-based model based on the Particle Flow Code (PFC3D-GBM) is proposed, in which the mineral grains can be filled and grouped at the three-dimensional scale. We model the notched semi-circular bending (NSCB) numerical sample using the PFC3D-GBM, and then implement it to a dynamic fracture test conducted on the SHPB system to investigate the dynamic fracture toughness and micro-cracking characteristic of granite at the grain scale. The influence of grain size-to-particle size ratio (Sr) on the dynamic mechanical properties is discussed from the microscopic point of view. Our numerical results show that as Sr increases, the percentage of intra-granular contacts in the sample increases, leading to an increase in the number of intra-granular cracks generated under dynamic loading. Because the bonding strength of intra-granular contacts is higher than that of grain boundary contacts, the breakage of intra-granular contact requires a relatively larger stress magnitude. Therefore, the external force required for the macro-fracture of the sample increases with increasing grain size. As the particle size decreases, the force chain distribution in the sample becomes significantly denser, which means that more particles are involved in the deformation process, thus increasing the deformation resistance of the sample.

Article highlights

  • A novel three-dimensional grain-based model based on discrete element method (DEM) is proposed.

  • The difference in mechanical response mechanism of granite samples with different grain sizes and particle sizes under dynamic loading is discussed.

  • Compared with intergranular contacts, transgranular contacts have a higher bonding strength, whose fracture requires a larger stress concentration value.

  • It is of better feasibility and reliability to apply PFC3D-GBM in exploring the static mechanical response mechanism of crystalline rock.

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Acknowledgements

The research presented in this paper was carried out under the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52179118, 51774295), and State Key Laboratory for GeoMechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Grant No. SKLGDUEK2014). The authors would like to thank their colleagues of the Rock Mechanics research group at the China University of Mining and technology and Army Engineering University of PLA for technical discussion and comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China

    Liyuan Yu, Tao Zhang, Dongyang Wu & Bangbiao Wu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Explosion Shock Prevention and Mitigation, Army Engineering University of PLA, Nanjing, 210007, Jiangsu, China

    Liyuan Yu & Linjian Ma

  3. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin Univeristy, Tianjin, 300350, China

    Bangbiao Wu

  4. College of Geology and Environment, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xian, 710054, Shaanxi, China

    Jiangbo Wei

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  1. Liyuan Yu
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  2. Tao Zhang
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Correspondence to Tao Zhang.

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Yu, L., Zhang, T., Wu, D. et al. Numerical investigation of the effect of grain size-to-particle size ratio on the dynamic fracture toughness of granite by using PFC3D-GBM. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 8, 72 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-022-00387-1

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