A Partitioned MPM and DEM Coupling Scheme for the Simulation of Natural Hazards

Mass movements hazards involving fast and large soil deformation have increased significantly in the past decades due to the climate change and global warming. Those phenomena like avalanches and mudflow can cause extensive damage on landscape and infrastructures. Even more devastating are those phenomena, which also carry huge rocks or heavy materials, causing economic loss and often human casualties. Therefore, further assessment and prediction on such disasters and countermeasures are in high economic demands. The Material Point Method (MPM) is a powerful method for the simulation of large deformation phenomena, involving complex history dependent material laws. As the particles move through a stationary background grid no mesh distortion will occur which is one of the main drawbacks, why established methods like the Finite Element Method cannot be used in this context. Additionally, as MPM utilizes a continuum based approach, large scale simulations are possible. However, considering rigid objects within a continuous flow, the Discrete Element Method, is preferable, as precise contact forces can be calculated with reasonable effort. The current work presents a staggered or partitioned coupling scheme, providing the possibility, to solve the MPM and DEM model separately using the respective established environment, whereas the communication between the two fields is achieved by mapping boundary conditions on the shared interface. Therefore, a wall condition has to be introduced on the DEM side, whereas non-conforming boundary conditions have to be considered at the corresponding MPM interface.      «

Mass movements hazards involving fast and large soil deformation have increased significantly in the past decades due to the climate change and global warming. Those phenomena like avalanches and mudflow can cause extensive damage on landscape and infrastructures. Even more devastating are those phenomena, which also carry huge rocks or heavy materials, causing economic loss and often human casualties. Therefore, further assessment and prediction on such disasters and countermeasures are in high...     »