Generation of DEM packings from RingMesh geological models

Lauriane Bouard and Francois Bonneau and Luc Scholtès and Margaux Raguenel. ( 2017 )
in: 2017 Ring Meeting, pages 1--10, ASGA

Abstract

The mechanical behavior of geomaterials can be studied with the discrete element method (DEM). The DEM discretizes the medium under consideration as a collection of spherical particles in interaction through pre-defined force-displacement laws and provides an efficient framework for modeling complex deformation processes taking place in geological systems. In this work, we developed an application to generate dense assemblies of spheres on the basis of geological meshes so that geomechanical simulations could be performed later on using the DEM. The approach is based on a pre-existing algorithm initially proposed by Jerier [2010] which has been upgraded to generate particle assemblies conform to geological objects created using RINGMesh. The method allows to identify the geological region to which the particles belong to so that they can be assigned specific mecahnical properties accordingly. We verified the pertinence of the methodology by characterizing the porosity and the uniformity of the generated assemblies. Finally, the method was applied to a complex geomodel composed by different formations and integrating a fault.

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BibTeX Reference

@inproceedings{Bouard2017,
 abstract = { The mechanical behavior of geomaterials can be studied with the discrete element method (DEM). The DEM discretizes the medium under consideration as a collection of spherical particles in interaction through pre-defined force-displacement laws and provides an efficient framework for modeling complex deformation processes taking place in geological systems. In this work, we developed an application to generate dense assemblies of spheres on the basis of geological meshes so that geomechanical simulations could be performed later on using the DEM. The approach is based on a pre-existing algorithm initially proposed by Jerier [2010] which has been upgraded to generate particle assemblies conform to geological objects created using RINGMesh. The method allows to identify the geological region to which the particles belong to so that they can be assigned specific mecahnical properties accordingly. We verified the pertinence of the methodology by characterizing the porosity and the uniformity of the generated assemblies. Finally, the method was applied to a complex geomodel composed by different formations and integrating a fault. },
 author = { Bouard, Lauriane AND Bonneau, Francois AND Scholtès, Luc AND Raguenel, Margaux },
 booktitle = { 2017 Ring Meeting },
 pages = { 1--10 },
 publisher = { ASGA },
 title = { Generation of DEM packings from RingMesh geological models },
 year = { 2017 }
}