Numerical Simulation of Systems of Multitudinous Polygonal Blocks

Abstract : In this work a method is developed for the simulation of two-dimensional systems of discrete convex polygonal particles. The particles themselves are rigid while the interparticle contacts are deformable. The contacts are termed deformable because areas of overlap that are found between adjacent particles are interpreted as surface deformations. The contact forces between particles are calculated from an elastic-viscous-plastic model based on the area of overlap and the rate of change of the area of overlap. The magnitude of the contact force is limited by the strength of the material. If the contact force reaches this limit, further deformation is non-recoverable....Discrete element method, Ice ridging, Pressure ridging, Ice mechanics, Particle simulation