• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.345-352
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• 2018

It is inevitable to use the distinct element method in the analysis of structural dynamics for stacked stone pagoda system. However, the experimental verification of analytical results produced by the discrete element method is not sufficient yet, and the theory of distinct element method is not universal in Korea. This study introduces how to model the stacked stone pagoda system using the distinct element method, and draws some considerations in the seismic analysis procedures. First, the rocking mode and sliding mode are locally mixed in the seismic responses. Second, the vertical stiffness and the horizontal stiffness on the friction surface have the greatest influence on the seismic behavior. Third, the complete seismic analysis of stacked stone pagoda system requires a set of the horizontal, vertical, and rotational velocity time histories of the ground. However, earthquake data monitored in Korea are limited to acceleration and velocity signals in some areas.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.406-413
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• 1998

The distinct element method is improved to consider the charateristics of stress wave propagation in media involving the discontinuous faces. The distinct element method has many advantages to analyse the characteristics of the reflection, refraction and deflection of the waves in nonhomogeneous media. The double-suing connection system is adopted instead of the single-spring connection system because the distinct element cannot be used for analysing the contact behavior between the different materials by only one contact spring. For the verification of the improved code, the results of the numerical analysis are compared with that of the photoelastic experiments which are one or two dimensional wave propagation problem of the nonhomogeneous media including the different accoustic impendence material or voids. It is shown that the characteristics of the stress wave propagation in nonhomogeneous media can be simulated appropriately using the improved distinct element method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.477-493
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• 2003

Masonry is not a simple material, the influence of mortar joints as a plane of weakness is a significant feature and this makes the numerical modelling of masonry very difficult especially when dynamic (seismic) analysis is involved. In order to develop a simple numerical model for masonry under earthquake load, an analytical model based on Distinct Element Method (DEM) is being developed. At the first stage, the model is applied to simulate the in-plane shear behaviour of an unreinforced masonry wall with and without opening where the testing results are available for comparison. In DEM, a solid is represented as an assembly of discrete blocks. Joints are modelled as interface between distinct bodies. It is a dynamic process and specially designed to model the behaviour of discontinuities. The numerical solutions obtained from the distinct element analysis are validated by comparing the results with those obtained from existing experiments and finite element modelling.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.14-21
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• 2019

Distinct element method is a powerful numerical tool for modelling the jointed rock masses. It is also a useful tool for modelling of later stage of blasting requiring large displacement. The distinct element method utilizes a rigid block idea in which the interacting force between distinct elements is calculated from contact displacement as elements penetrate slightly. The properties of joints defined as the boundaries of distinct elements are critical parameters to determine the block behavior, and affect the deformation and failure mode. However, regardless of real joint properties, joint stiffnesses have sometimes been selected without special concern just to prevent elements from penetrating too far into each other in some quasi-static problems. Depending on whether the main interest in the analysis is the prediction of the deformation with high precision, or the prediction of the block behaviour after failure, the input data such as joint stiffness may or may not have a significant effect on the results. The purpose of this study is to provide a sound understanding of the effect of the joint stiffness on the distinct element analysis results, and to help guide the selection of input data.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.210-217
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• 1996

Under strong shock loads including earthquake or blast, structures may start to crack in stress concentrated members. The continuous behavior of the structure changes to the discontinuous. In this study, numerical method analyzing continuous and discontinuous behavior of a structure is developed using a modified distinct element method. Equations of motion of each distinct element are integrated using the central difference method, one of the finite difference methods. Interactions between he elements are considered by an element and pore spring. The forces acting in the center of an element include contact stress transferred by element spring; tensile stress by pore spring; and external traction such as earthquake or blast load. To verify the proposed method, the behavior of the cantilever beam subject to the quasi-static concentrated force at the end is investigated. The failure behavior of the simply supported beam subject to the strong shock at the center is studied. The proposed method can predict the failure behavior of the structure due to the shock loading and the post-failure discontinuous behavior of the structure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.163-170
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• 2000

The distinct element method has been effectively applied to the analysis of stability and behavior of jointed rock masses. In this paper the modelling characteristics of different types of distinct element model were investigated. Arch tunnel examples were chosen to compare the calculation results of two computer codes, NURBM and CBLOCK, where the former is based on implicit algorithm, and the other on explicit one. CBLOCK calculations show that joint properties are very important parameters in the stability analysis and that the joint stiffness ratio associated with joint configuration could be used as an indicator, whereas NURBM differ from that. Some other disagreements were also identified.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.410-417
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• 2000

The distinct element method has been effectively applied to the analysis of stability and behavior of jointed rock masses. In this paper the modelling characteristics of different types of distinct element model were investigated. Arch tunnel examples were chosen to compare the calculation results of two computer codes, NURBM and CBLOCK, where the former is based on implicit algorithm, and the other on explicit one. CBLOCK calculations show that joint properties are very important parameters in the stability analysis and that the joint stiffness ratio associated with joint configuration could be used as an indicator, whereas NURBM differ from that. Some other disagreements were also identified.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.852-855
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• 2010

Numerical simulations for large scale triaxial tests with large diameter rockfill materials are conducted using distinct element method. For generation of compacted assembly with specific grain size distribution and initial material porosity, the clump logic method and expansion of generated particles are adapted. With micro parameters which are chosen by calibration process, discrete particle modelling of triaxial test in case of other confining stress and cyclic loading condition were conducted. Also numerical simulations of fluid injection into particulate materials were conducted to observe cavity initiation and propagation using distinct element method. The fluid scheme solves the continuity and Navior-Stokes equations numerically, then derives pressure and velocity vectors for fixed grid by considering the existence of particles within the fluid cell.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.81-93
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• 1992

Numerical modeling of problems having infinite and semi-infinite boundaries is studied using a coupled method of distinct elements and boundary elements. The regions which are restricted on stress concentration area of loading points, excavation surface, and geometric discontinuity in the underground structures, are modeled using distinct elements, while the infinite and semi-infinite regions are modeled using linear boundary elements. Linear boundary elements for infinite and semi-infinite region are respectively composed using the Kelvin's and the Melan's solution, respectively. For the completeness, the boundary element method, the distinct element, and the coupled method of distinct elements and boundary elements are studied independently. The coupled method is verified and is applied to underground structures of infinite and semi-infinite regions. Through the comparison of the results, it is concluded that the coupled analysis may be used for discontinuous underground structures in the effective manner.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.55-62
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• 2012

In this research, the algorithm for simulating specific grain size distribution(GSD) with large diameter granular material was developed using the distinct element analysis program $PFC^{3D}$(Particle Flow Code). This modeling approach can generate the initial distinct elements without clump logic or cluster logic and prevent distinct element from escaping through the confining walls during the process. Finally the proposed distinct element model is used to simulate large triaxial compression test of the rockfill material and we compared the simulation output with lab test results. Simulation results of Assembly showed very well agreement with the GSD of the test sample and numerical modeling of granular material would be possible for various stress conditions using this application through the calibration.