Computers and Geotechnics最新文献

{"title":"Coupled mechanisms of load transfer and fracture in bonded granular materials using CT image-based discrete element method","authors":"Hu Yang ,&nbsp;Yiik Diew Wong ,&nbsp;Liyan Shan ,&nbsp;Lingwen Li","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bonded granular materials (BGMs) consist of the skeleton of granular aggregate particles and a cementitious agent between the particles. This study presents a damage analysis framework for BGMs using a computed tomography (CT) image-based discrete element method. X-ray CT scanning and image processing technology are employed to construct in situ discrete element models, categorizing particle bonding into interface bonding and mortar paste bonding. The force chains are decomposed into compressive, tensile, and shear chains, and their evolution is analyzed using complex network theory. The study investigates the coupled mechanisms between force chain evolution and bonding failure in BGMs under loading. Key findings include the critical role of fracture resistance differences between interface bonding and mortar paste bonding in determining BGM strength. The bonding-failure rate, particularly at peak load, reliably indicates material strength, with interface bonding failure surpassing mortar paste bonding failure. Force chain evolution shows rapid concentration in the loading zone, forming a stable backbone structure despite post-peak degradation. Shear and tensile force chain networks evolve with crack propagation, and force transmission paths are reorganized in the final phase. The critical points of force chain network parameters align with macroscopic load response and fracture evolution, thereby offering insights into coupled load transfer and fracture mechanisms. The proposed framework not only advances the understanding of force chain dynamics but also supports damage prediction and structural optimization by providing a comprehensive tool to track materials behavior under loading.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107891"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146026151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tunnel excavation and swelling analysis of expansive bedrock with multiphysics elasto-plastic model capable of describing different swelling behavior due to exchangeable cation species","authors":"Keitaro Hoshi,&nbsp;Shotaro Yamada,&nbsp;Yuta Abe,&nbsp;Takashi Kyoya","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107956","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107956","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Swelling of smectite-bearing bedrock can cause severe tunnel deformation, depending on the type of exchangeable cation present in the interlayer structure. This study proposes an extended expansive bedrock model capable of capturing distinct swelling behaviors induced by different cation species. The model incorporates a double-layer repulsive force, formulated based on Stern theory, into a previously developed finite elastoplastic framework. Finite element analyses of tunnel excavation and subsequent swelling were performed using the proposed model. The results indicate that yielding of the bedrock skeleton acts as a trigger for accelerated swelling deformation, and that the swelling behavior is strongly influenced by the type of exchangeable cation: in sodium-type smectite, pronounced swelling occurred primarily at the tunnel invert, whereas calcium- and potassium-type smectites exhibited only minor expansion. The analysis also investigated the mechanical interaction between the expansive bedrock and an invert concrete layer. Under the assumed conditions, compressive axial stresses exceeding 20 MPa developed in the invert, suggesting that the swelling pressure can surpass the compressive strength of ordinary unreinforced concrete. These findings elucidate the fundamental mechanism of tunnel invert deformation, highlighting the distinct swelling behaviors associated with various exchangeable cation species, clarifying the multiscale and multiphysics interactions between electrochemical processes in the interlaminar region and the elastoplastic response of the surrounding rock mass, and quantitatively demonstrating the mitigating effect of the invert on swelling-induced tunnel deformation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107956"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Time-dependent deformations in deep tunnels: Insights into uncertainty and variability of rheological behavior","authors":"Milad Zaheri ,&nbsp;Pierpaolo Oreste ,&nbsp;Masoud Ranjbarnia ,&nbsp;Elham Mahmoudi","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107942","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107942","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The uncertainty in determining rock mass properties significantly impacts tunnel stability. Additionally, squeezing conditions worsen tunnel stability, causing the tunnel to gradually converge over time. This paper addresses this issue and investigates the long-term behavior of deep tunnels using both visco-elastic and visco-elasto-plastic models. This study also includes risk-based analyses to offer a quantitative tool for engineering decision-making. Initially, an analytical method is introduced to calculate tunnel convergence in a visco-elastic rock mass. The uncertainty of key parameters that significantly affect tunnel behavior is also considered. Using MATLAB, the probability distributions of tunnel wall deformations over time are determined. The results indicate that, except in one case, the long-term tunnel convergence follows a right-skewed Gamma distribution, especially with a low GSI in both visco-elastic and visco-elasto-plastic models. This suggests that deterministic methods may not be reliable for ensuring the safety of long-term tunnel designs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107942"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The performance of quadratic finite-discrete element method (qFDEM) and its potential advantages","authors":"Zhonghao Li ,&nbsp;Xiaofeng Li ,&nbsp;Haibo Li ,&nbsp;Qi Zhao ,&nbsp;Giovanni Grasselli","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107925","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107925","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combined finite–discrete element method (FDEM) has proven effective for simulating crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence in brittle solids. However, existing FDEM frameworks remain limited to constant-strain elements, leading to restricted capability in representing complex stress fields, pronounced sensitivity to shear and volumetric locking, and a strong tendency toward numerical dispersion in dynamic problems. To overcome these limitations, this study develops a high order element-based framework incorporating a novel quadratic cohesive element to enhance model accuracy and continuity. The proposed quadratic cohesive element ensures uniform traction distribution along edges, avoiding the mid-node stress concentrations that typically lead to mesh incompatibility and artificial strength reduction. Three quasi-static loading tests and one wave propagation test are performed to compare quadratic and linear models. The results show that the quadratic model consistently outperforms the linear counterpart in stress path, crack propagation, and mitigating numerical dispersion. In quasi-static loading, the new quadratic model exhibits a lower error in stress, predicts a more precise crack initiation load, and provides more reliable crack path predictions compared with previous models. In dynamic conditions, it can effectively mitigate the numerical dispersion of high-frequency wave components that low-order elements struggle with and provide more stable wave propagation simulations. Moreover, the quadratic elements FDEM framework offers an economical alternative for enhancing the fidelity of crack simulations: compared to mesh refinement, quadratic elements achieve comparable accuracy in crack initiation load prediction with only 50–60% of the computational cost.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107925"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydro-mechanical–chemical modelling of solute–consolidation coupling in near-saturated soils with entrapped bubbles","authors":"Bolin Wang,&nbsp;Dong-Sheng Jeng","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107967","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107967","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Long-term solute transport in deformable, low-permeability porous media plays a crucial role in various geo-environmental and environmental problems. This study presents a coupled three-dimensional (3D) hydro-mechanical–chemical (HMC) model tailored for unsaturated conditions. Two distinct chemical mechanisms are incorporated: osmotic pressure governing chemical–hydraulic feedback, and chemically induced strain contributing to the mechanical response. Numerical simulations show that osmotic effects dominate solute migration by amplifying advective transport and modifying pore-pressure variation, whereas chemically induced deformation plays a secondary role under small strain condition. Furthermore, the pore-radius-dependent interfacial effect primarily modulates the early consolidation response by altering the pore-pressure field, with smaller characteristic pore radii producing steeper hydraulic gradients and stronger advective solute transport. Sensitivity analyses identify threshold values of solute flux, mechanical loading and osmotic efficiency beyond which chemical effects become significant, while under milder conditions conventional hydro–mechanical (HM) models provide reliable approximations of the full HMC responses. The proposed framework provides a robust basis for predicting long-term chemo-hydraulic interactions in unsaturated soils subjected to coupled environmental loading.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107967"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling non-Newtonian fluid–solid flows containing non-spherical particles by the SPH-DEM coupling model","authors":"Jiahang Du ,&nbsp;Yihang Yu ,&nbsp;Yuqi Guo ,&nbsp;Huaqing Ma ,&nbsp;Yongzhi Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107990","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107990","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Given the ubiquity and significance of fluid–solid systems composed of non-Newtonian fluids and non-spherical particles in nature and industry, the deep investigation of their interaction dynamics is crucial for geological studies and engineering applications. In this paper, a resolved coupling model based on Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) and the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is proposed to simulate the interaction between non-Newtonian fluids and non-spherical particles. The non-Newtonian fluid is modelled using SPH with the power-law model, while the dynamics of the non-spherical particles is simulated using DEM incorporated with the super-ellipsoid and polyhedral particle models. A modified boundary repulsive force model, combined with the fixed ghost particle method, is developed to handle boundary conditions. For super-ellipsoid and polyhedron boundaries, an improved approach is proposed to generate uniformly distributed, body-fitted boundary dummy particles on their surfaces, thereby ensuring computational accuracy near boundaries and in fluid–solid interactions. To rigorously validate the framework, four benchmark cases are conducted, and the resulting numerical simulations are subsequently compared with experiments in this study. The SPH and DEM methods are first independently validated using a 3D non-Newtonian dam-break and a dry granular column collapse, respectively. The coupled framework is then assessed through two fluid–solid interaction cases: cube entry into a non-Newtonian fluid and complex dam-break scenarios involving mixtures of non-Newtonian fluids and non-spherical particles. The simulated flow behaviors (<em>e</em>.<em>g</em>., the cube penetration depth and downstream propagation of fluid–solid mixture) agree well with the corresponding experiments, validating the effectiveness of the proposed boundary treatment method and the accuracy of the framework to simulate the fluid–solid interaction systems involving non-Newtonian fluids and non-spherical particles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107990"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Simulation of brittle particle breakage using a spherical harmonic-based discrete element method","authors":"Jiabao Gao ,&nbsp;Daosheng Ling ,&nbsp;Fubin Tu","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107972","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107972","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Particle breakage significantly influences the strength and deformation behavior of materials in geotechnical engineering and powder processing. However, conventional discrete element methods remain limited in capturing irregular particle morphology and complex breakage mechanisms. This study develops a 3D breakage model grounded in the spherical harmonic-based discrete element method (SH-DEM). A dual-center definition is introduced to couple geometric representation with dynamic response, forming a breakage identification method applicable to 3D irregular particles. Fracture planes are identified using the Boussinesq–Cerruti analytical solution together with Dijkstra path search, with predictions validated against finite element analyses and experimental data. Numerical single-particle compression simulations reveal an inverse correlation between fragment number and the major-fragment volume fraction. They further demonstrate strong morphology-dependent breakage. Spherical and plate-like particles exhibit multifragment breakage with abundant fines, while blade-like and rod-like particles fail along high-curvature regions, resulting in through-particle separation. These findings underscore the central influence of particle morphology on brittle breakage mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107972"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A phase field fracture model for rock creep: Theoretical framework and engineering applications","authors":"Rui Liu ,&nbsp;Shuwei Zhou ,&nbsp;Shikang Qin ,&nbsp;Chengkai Zhang ,&nbsp;Meng Xing","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.108007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.108007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes a double phase field framework for modeling rock creep fracture, which incorporates the tensile and compressive strain induced fracture and considers the coupling between rock creep and fracture. This framework enables the separation of tensile and compressive–shear cracks through a double phase field model, which subsequently influences the rock’s constitutive matrix. Furthermore, it accounts for the mutual coupling between creep and fracture mechanisms. Experimental observations confirm that the proposed model aligns with existing tests in three aspects: creep behavior, failure patterns, and creep-induced failure. Studies on specimens containing single and double prefabricated flaws reveal that: creep induces the development of compressive cracks; under identical loading pressure, creep rates do not alter crack propagation directions; the proposed phase-field fracture model effectively captures crack evolution during rock fracturing. Further validation against engineering practices indicates that the model demonstrates promising performance in characterizing surrounding rock damage in underground engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 108007"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A three-dimensional arbitrary grid material point method for large deformation problems with geometrically complex boundaries","authors":"Hongyu Ma,&nbsp;Ruopu Zhou,&nbsp;Xiong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107993","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107993","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Material Point Method (MPM) is a hybrid “mesh-particle” approach for large deformation simulations that avoids the high computational costs and boundary challenges of traditional meshfree particle methods. However, bottlenecks arise when modeling geometrically complex boundaries, especially in three dimensions. In this article, a three-dimensional arbitrary grid material point method (3D-AGMPM) is proposed to construct complex boundaries using polyhedral grid cells. This novel method establishes a unified framework for various cell types. In the particle-to-grid mapping procedure, the 3D-Wachspress basis functions are introduced as shape functions for arbitrary grid cells, while an improved hash-cell based particle localization algorithm is proposed to enhance computational efficiency. Nonlinear frictional boundary conditions are proposed in a trial-correction framework to model the frictional interaction between the body and complex geometric surfaces. In addition, a contact algorithm for polyhedral cells is proposed to handle contacts among multiple bodies within the arbitrary grid. Several benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed 3D-AGMPM for handling problems involving complex geometric boundaries. Furthermore, practical case studies, such as the Wangjiayan landslide, highlight its robustness and potential in addressing large-scale, complex engineering problems. Due to the simple implementation, flexibility, and high efficiency, the proposed 3D-AGMPM shows promise as a powerful tool for solving large deformation problems with geometrically complex boundaries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107993"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interface behavior of concrete cut-off walls: a thermodynamics-based generalized elasto-plastic-damage model","authors":"Gang Wang ,&nbsp;Mingke Liao ,&nbsp;Zhichao Zhang ,&nbsp;Wei Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107966","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.107966","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A generalized elasto-plastic-damage model unified for stiff and flexible interface behaviors in concrete cut-off walls is developed in this paper based on interface thermodynamics. The state-dependent couplings among elasticity, plasticity, and damage in coarse interface behavior are accounted for within the thermodynamic framework, with considerations of the interface roughness. The concept of interface contact fabric is proposed to take into account the effect of contact normal orientations at meso scale, which evolves gradually under shearing to allow the mobilization of higher shear strengths. It is also coupled with the interface damage that induces degradations of both the contact fabric and the interface roughness. This leads to significant strain softening even in contractive stiff interfaces. The proposed model is validated by predicting a series of interface shear tests implemented for three groups of concrete and concrete-mud interfaces. It is shown that the model well captures the effects of interface roughness on the diverse behaviors of shear hardening/softening and shear dilation/contraction in both stiff and flexible interfaces, with the interface damage and the contact fabric evolution as two basic underlying mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55217,"journal":{"name":"Computers and Geotechnics","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107966"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}