Computational modeling of brittle rocks subjected to very high velocity impact

Rocks often experience very rapid loading in both natural and engineering settings, such
as during earthquakes, asteroid impacts, and mining activities. While advanced exper-
iments can help us understand how rocks respond to these loading, they are expensive
and time-consuming. Here, we developed a mathematical model, which we turned into
specialized computer code, to simulate how rocks deform and break under very rapid
loading. We conducted high-speed impact tests on rocks using 2 km/s projectiles and
then tested our code by modeling these impact tests. Our results show that the code well
captures both the impact process and the key mechanisms that occur in rocks during
these high-speed impacts. We also discover that the theory describing the movement of
rock fragments plays a crucial role in modeling the rapid response of rocks. Our model
is an important advance in modeling the response of rock under very rapid loading. It
has the potential to improve our understanding of geological processes and to enhance
efficiency in various engineering applications