Finite DEM Applied to Mining and Petroleum Geomechanics

Johnson Ha, Geomechanics Specialist at Geomechanica presents at the 2024 ATCx DEM.

Numerical modeling of rock masses poses major challenges, including: presence of heterogeneities and discontinuities, non-linear stress-strain response, and confinement-dependent behavior. Numerical methods commonly used in practice either ignore stress and deformation, assume the rock to be continuous, or represent the rock mass as complete blocks. The finite-discrete element method (FDEM) overcomes these limitations and makes it possible to study the failure of rock masses with incorporation of complex kinematic mechanisms. To show the application of FDEM, a number of practical case studies in mining and petroleum engineering are presented.