High-precision computational modeling of soil-rock mixtures considering realistic shape of rock blocks

• Published in: Engineering geology 2023-09, Vol.323, p.107236, Article 107236
• Main Authors: Liu, Yong, Sun, Shaorui, Lin, Cheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D mesostructure modeling; bioinformatics; computational methodology; engineering; Engineering application; engineers; mechanical properties; Performance optimization; Precise control; Realistic Shape; rocks; Soil-rock mixtures
• ISSN: 0013-7952; 1872-6917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2023.107236

Soil-rock mixtures (SRMs) are heterogeneous geological bodies with complex spatial structures and peculiar mechanical properties. This paper proposes a high-precision computational modeling method to realistically simulate the shape of rock blocks in the SRMs as well as the mesostructure of SRMs. The precise control theory of the rock blocks is first described. Then, acceleration measures such as bounding volume hierarchies and position culling are introduced to increase the computational efficiency while retaining the model accuracy. Practical examples and comparisons with the existing methods are provided to demonstrate the advantageous features of this method. In the end, the modeling method is successfully integrated into the DEM platform to create engineering models involved in SRMs, which lays the foundation for further DEM analysis to understand the effects of the mesostructure on the mechanical properties of SRMs. •Computational modeling of soil-rock mixtures based on realistic shape of rock blocks.•High-precision control of the orientation, size and position of rock blocks in the sample domain.•Suitable for both convex and concave particles with massive triangular faces.•Performance optimization based on designed data structures and algorithms.•Convenient integration with engineering cases and laboratory experiments.