The 3D numerical simulation of damage localization of rocks using General Particle Dynamics

The damage localization of rocks is an open issue in rock engineering. Moreover, it is difficult to observe directly the micro-scale process of damage localization and damage evolution of rocks. Therefore, in this paper, the General Particle Dynamic method (GPD) is developed to simulate the damage localization and failure process of 3D rock samples. The effect of the intermediate principal stress on the strength, the stress-strain curve and the damage localization modes of a cubical rock specimen subjected to the true triaxial compressive loads is investigated. The different failure modes including the single shear damage localization mode, axial splitting damage mode, X-shaped conjugate shear damage localization mode and Cone-shaped damage localization are found. It is found that the numerical results obtained from GPD are in good agreement with experimental observations. It is implied that the formation of damage localization band induced by the initiation and propagation and coalescence of micro-cracks in rocks can be well simulated using GPD.