Application and prospective of 3D printing in rock mechanics: A review
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Application and prospective of 3D printing in rock mechanics: A review Yong-tao Gao 1,2), Tian-hua Wu 1,2), and Yu Zhou 1,2) 1) Key Laboratory of Ministry for Efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China 2) School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China (Received: 27 March 2020; revised: 22 May 2020; accepted: 16 June 2020)
Abstract: This review aims to discuss the application and development of three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology in the field of rock mechanics and the mechanical behaviors of 3D-printed specimens on the basis of various available printing materials. This review begins with a brief description of the concepts and principles associated with 3DP, and then systematically elaborates the five major applications of 3DP technology in the field of rock mechanics, namely, the preparation of rock (including pre-flawed rock) specimens, preparation of joints, preparation of geophysical models, reconstruction of complex rock structures, and performance of bridging experimental testing and numerical simulation. Meanwhile, the mechanical performance of 3D-printed specimens created using six different printing materials, such as polymers, resin, gypsum, sand, ceramics, and rock-like geological materials, is reviewed in detail. Subsequently, some improvements that can make these 3Dprinted specimens close to natural rocks and some limitations of 3DP technology in the application of rock mechanics are discussed. Some prospects that are required to be investigated in the future are also proposed. Finally, a brief summary is presented. This review suggests that 3DP technology, especially when integrated with other advanced technologies, such as computed tomography scanning and 3D scanning, has great potential in rock mechanics field. Keywords: three-dimensional printing (3DP); rock mechanics; 3DP material; rock analogue; 3DP geotechnical model; numerical simulation
1. Introduction Rock mechanics, related to the research on rock response (rock mass) to an imposed disturbance aroused by natural (e.g., tectonic movement) or engineering procedures (e.g., excavation), is a discipline that combines geology and mechanics. Rock mechanics is also a basic subject in many engineering disciplines (e.g., mining, civil, hydraulic, petroleum, underground, and geological engineering). Therefore, investigating rock mechanics is of great significance in studying and predicting the mechanical behaviors of engineering rock masses in these fields [1–2]. The geological environment determines the complex physical and mechanical characteristics of rock, such as nonlinearity, discontinuity, heterogeneity, and anisotropy, all of which lead to an increase in the difficulty of using traditional theoretical research methods to study the response of rock under stress. Experimental (e.g., in-situ [3] and laboratory [4–6] (most commonly used)) and
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