Geomechanica’s new Irazu simulation software for modelling geomaterials

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Geomechanica’s new Irazu simulation software for modelling geomaterials

Modelling the deformation and failure process of rock represents a challenging task due to the intrinsic characteristics of the rock material and the presence of natural discontinuities. To address the modelling challenge, Geomechanica has been developing Irazu, an innovative software package based on the hybrid finite-discrete element method (FEMDEM or FDEM), which combines conventional continuum mechanics with discrete element methods. A distinctive feature of Geomechanica’s Irazu simulation software is its ability to explicitly capture fracture and fragmentation processes in geomaterials, thus allowing complex, non-linear behaviours to be numerically reproduced. As such, existing rock mass discontinuities and heterogeneity can also be readily incorporated into simulations.

To handle the intensive computational demands of large-scale simulations, Geomechanica’s Irazu simulation software employs state-of-the-art high performance computing technology to harness the computational power of general-purpose graphics processing units (GPGPUs). With the substantial improvement in computational speed provided by these techniques, large simulations, which previously required weeks of run-time, can now be completed within a few hours.

Geomechanica’s Irazu is a robust, cost effective, and predictive tool that can be used:

  • in mining to optimize pillar sizing, investigate block cave evolution, and estimate the breakout and dilution;
  • in oil and gas to estimate and optimize the shape and extent of fracture network in hydraulic fracturing stimulation in unconventional reservoirs and to examine the role of pre-existing rock mass fabric;
  • to aid in risk assessment for rock engineering projects by enabling both stability analysis (hazard) and quantitative post-failure analysis (consequences);
  • to predict rock mass deformation and damage in tunnels, slopes, shafts, and dam foundations.

To learn more about how Geomechanica’s Irazu software can help address your current rock mechanics modelling challenges, please reach out to us by calling 1-647-478-9767 or emailing us at info@geomechanica.com. Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest updates from us.