The combined hybrid finite-discrete element method (FDEM) is widely used for modeling fracturing and fragmentation processes in brittle materials such as rock and concrete. The intrinsic advantage of FDEM derives by its ability to combine continuum mechanics formulations, such as finite strain-based deformability and non-linear fracture mechanics, with discrete element method, allowing the seamless transition from a continuum to a discontinuum model. FDEM allows to model multiple crack initiation, propagation and nucleation at micro scale to fractures or fragments at macro scale. These advances promote the applications of FDEM in geomechanics, energy storage, geothermal energy extraction, rock engineering, oil and gas exploration and mining. In recent decades, the FDEM has matured into a more general-purpose numerical method, covering mechanical, hydraulic, thermal and chemical coupling, that can be used to tackle increasingly more complex multiphase, multiphysics and multiscale problems.  

This Special Issue aims to highlight the new advances and future developments of combined finite-discrete element method or continuum-discontinuum method, for fracturing and fragmentation in geomechanics, underground energy storage, nuclear waste disposal, enhanced geothermal system, civil engineering or mining. The issue will be based on the invited submissions to the workshop “FDEM-2022 – Modeling innovations and numerical experiments in geomechanics”, held in Toronto on December 8-9, 2022. 

The main topic includes but not limited to:

• Multiscale, multiphase, and multiphysics modeling of fracture and fragmentation in rock mechanics and rock engineering
• New advances and future developments of combined finite-discrete element method
• High-Performance computing application and large-scale modelling in combined finite-discrete element method
• Novel contact algorithms for high efficiency and accuracy
• Hydraulic fracturing and fluid transportation modelling in energy storage or fractured reservoirs
• THM(C) coupling in enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), underground hydrogen storage (UHS), nuclear waste disposal and CO2 storage
• Computational fluid dynamics and fluid-solid interaction for rock fracturing modelling
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning technique in combined finite-discrete element method

Manuscript Submission Information

• Submission Open: December 15, 2022
• Submission Deadline: September 15, 2023

Submission Instructions
You are invited to submit your manuscript at any time before the submission deadline. For any inquiries about the appropriateness of contribution topics, please contact Dr. Xiaofeng Li via xiaofeng.li@utoronto.ca.

The journal’s submission platform Editorial Manager® is now available for receiving submissions to this Special Issue.

Please refer to the Guide for Authors to prepare your manuscript, and select the article type of “FDEM 2023” when submitting your manuscript online. Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage here: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-rock-mechanics-and-geotechnical-engineering 

Papers are expected to cover the topic of novel advances in combined finite-discrete element method for fracturing and fragmentation in rock mechanics and rock engineering. Authors should take note that their manuscripts must fully adhere to the journal’s requirements and include fundamental and novel scientific results with discussions of their general implications. Please note that all the submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers, under stringent quality control by the guest editors as per the JRMGE policy and guidelines. Upon its editorial acceptance, your article will go into production immediately and published in open access.

Guest Editors
Dr. Giovanni Grasselli
Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering
University of Toronto, Toronto, CA, Canada
Email: giovanni.grasselli@utoronto.ca  
 
Dr. Haibo Li
Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
Email: hbli@whrsm.ac.cn  
 
Dr. Xiaofeng Li
Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering
University of Toronto, Toronto, CA, Canada
Email: xiaofeng.li@utoronto.ca