Coupling the Discrete Element Method with the Finite Element Method to Simulate Rockfall Impact Experiments

== Abstract ==

To numerically simulate rockfall impact on flexible protection structures two different numerical methods are coupled within the open-source multi-physics code KRATOS. The impacting object is modeled with the help of a cluster of spherical discrete elements and its movement and contact forces are simulated using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). To realize a partitioned coupling simulation the contact forces are subsequently transferred to the light-weight protection structure which is analyzed and simulated using the Finite Element Method (FEM). To allow a stable simulation even in the case of large contact forces and/or large time steps a strong coupling GaussSeidel algorithm is presented. Subsequently the applicability of the method is shown by calculating experiments and finally the inclusion of digital terrain data is demonstrated.

== Full document ==
<pdf>Media:Draft_Content_705340094P_IDC13_101.pdf</pdf>