A framework for grand scale parallelization of the combined finite discrete element method in 2d

• Published in: Computational particle mechanics Vol. 1; no. 3; pp. 307 - 319
• Main Authors: Lei, Z., Rougier, E., Knight, E. E., Munjiza, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-09-2014
• Subjects: Classical and Continuum Physics; Computational Science and Engineering; Engineering; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Combined finite discrete element; Fracture; FDEM; Parallelization; Virtual engine
• ISSN: 2196-4378; 2196-4386
• DOI: 10.1007/s40571-014-0026-3

Within the context of rock mechanics, the Combined Finite-Discrete Element Method (FDEM) has been applied to many complex industrial problems such as block caving, deep mining techniques (tunneling, pillar strength, etc.), rock blasting, seismic wave propagation, packing problems, dam stability, rock slope stability, rock mass strength characterization problems, etc. The reality is that most of these were accomplished in a 2D and/or single processor realm. In this work a hardware independent FDEM parallelization framework has been developed using the Virtual Parallel Machine for FDEM, (V-FDEM). With V-FDEM, a parallel FDEM software can be adapted to different parallel architecture systems ranging from just a few to thousands of cores.