Combined Finite‐Discrete Element Modelling of Dynamic Rock Fracture and Fragmentation during Mining Production Process by Blast

Abstract

A combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) is proposed to model the dynamic fracture, fragmentation, and resultant muck-piling process during mining production by blast in underground mine. The key component of the proposed method, that is, transition from continuum to discontinuum through fracture and fragmentation, is introduced in detail, which makes the proposed method superior to the continuum-based finite element method and discontinuum-based discrete element method. The FDEM is calibrated by modelling the crater formation process by blast. The FDEM has well modelled the stress and fracture propagation and resultant fragmentation process. In addition, the proposed method has well captured the crushed zone, cracked zone, and the radial long crack zone. After that, the FDEM is employed to model the dynamic fracture and resultant fragmentation process by blast during sublevel caving process in an underground mine. Then the FDEM has well modelled the stress propagation process, as well as the fracture initiation and fragmenting process. Finally, the effects of borehole spacing and initial gas pressure are discussed. It is concluded that the FDEM is a value numerical approach to study the dynamic rock fracture process by blast.

Advances in Blast-Induced Impact Prediction—A Review of Machine Learning Applications

“…Additionally, attempts are being made by researchers to introduce new and improved fragment distribution models, leveraging on the advances gained in computer power in recent years. Studies such as An et al [173], Tao et al [174], and Yi et al [123] have utilized numerical modeling techniques and image processing to predict fragment size distributions. One merit of the numerical approach is that it allows the researcher to simulate a series of fragment size distribution scenarios under various blast configurations and fracture patterns [174].…”

FDEM Modelling of Rock Fracture Process during Three‐Point Bending Test under Quasistatic and Dynamic Loading Conditions

“…e authors [5,7,[15][16][17] proposed Y2D/3D IDE to simply use the Y2D/ 3D library and visually display the calculated results. In this research, the Y2D/3D IDE is used for modelling the rock failure processes during three-point bending tests under various loading rates.…”

“…ose test techniques are used to obtain the general rock properties, e.g., rock strengths and rock toughness. Besides the experiential method, the numerical techniques have provided a better way to understand the rock fracture mechanics [2][3][4][5][6][7]. Based on the continuous or discontinuous material hypothesis, the numerical techniques include three main types, i.e., continuum-based methods, discontinuum-based methods, and hybrid or combined continuum-discontinuum-based methods.…”

A critical review on coupled geomechanics and fluid flow in naturally fractured reservoirs

“…It is worth mentioning that several efforts have done to combine the finite element analysis of stress/deformation evolution with the discrete element solutions of transient dynamics, contact detection, and interactions in terms of the hybrid finite element-discrete element method (FDEM) (An et al, 2021;Knight et al, 2020;Munjiza, 2004). In this discontinuum solution form, the FEM approach is employed to capture the internal stress field of each discrete matrix block while the DEM algorithm is used to calculate the translation, rotation, and interaction of multiple rock blocks (Munjiza, 2004).…”