Development of Cellular Automata Software for Engineering Rockmass Fracturing Processes

This paper presents the development of self-developed cellular automata software for engineering rockmass fracturing processes (CASRock). CASRock is a combination of cellular automaton, rock mechanics, engineering geology, elasto-plastic mechanics and fracture mechanics. CASRock was initially developed to simulate the failure process of heterogeneous rock, and it is improved to focus on the fracturing process of engineering rockmass. The use of a cellular automaton allows CASRock to accurately represent the real fracturing characteristics of engineering rockmass. This process is a ‘down-top’ way handle the fracturing behaviour of rockmass. CASRock contains several mechanical models, including the 3D elastic-plastic-ductile-brittle model, for different applications in rockmass engineering. New stability analysis indexes, e.g., the RFD (rock fracturing degree), are incorporated into CASRock to evaluate the fracturing degree of engineering rockmass. A parallel cellular automaton updating rule is developed for large-scale stability analysis of engineering rockmass. The theory and software functions are briefly introduced. Several applications are presented to show the ability of CASRock to simulate engineering rockmass failure processes under complex conditions.