The effects of joints on rock fragmentation by TBM cutters using General Particle Dynamics

•The novel meshfree method called General Particle Dynamics is proposed.•The mechanism of rock fragmentation in jointed rock by TBM cutters is revealed.•The effects of joints on rock fragmentation by two cutters are investigated.

In this paper, a novel meshfree numerical method known as General Particle Dynamics (GPD) is proposed to reveal the mechanism of the rock fragmentation by TBM cutters. Rock fragmentation by two cutters in consecutive joints rock is investigated using GPD. The numerical results obtained from GPD are in good agreement with the field observed results. Moreover, the effects of the length of intermittent joints on rock fragmentation by two cutters are investigated using GPD. It is found from the numerical results that the length of intermittent joints can significantly influence the crack initiation and propagation and coalescence as well as the fragmentation pattern, and hence affect the penetration rate of the TBM. It indicates that GPD has the potential in simulating rock indentation and fragmentation by TBM cutters.