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A grid-independent level set approach for simulating complex rigid boundaries in the material point method
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DOI：10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.108232.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
The material point method (MPM) is widely used for simulating large-deformation soil–structure interactions. While level set methods have been introduced to the MPM to accurately describe contacts, their application to rigid boundaries remains constrained by the need to discretize the signed distance field onto the background grid; thus, the field inherits the resolution limits and storage costs of the background grid. This study presents a grid-free, level set-based framework for the MPM that enables accurate and efficient representation of geometrically complex rigid boundaries, thereby extending the capabilities of level set methods for robust contact treatment in large-deformation analyses. Analytical signed distance functions and a contact mechanics algorithm are used to obtain the geometry representations. Validation against canonical benchmarks demonstrates that the proposed method has a smoother interface response and reduced sensitivity to grid-related artefacts than conventional nodal contact algorithms. The framework is then applied to a series of benchmarks of increasing complexity, from soil–tool interactions to a simulation of displacement pile installation in dense sand. In the displacement pile installation scenario, the proposed framework captures cone resistance trends and deformation patterns consistent with the results of calibration chamber experiments. By decoupling geometric representations from the grid resolution, the framework provides an efficient and flexible approach for the analysis of large-deformation geotechnical problems involving complex rigid boundaries.
Keywords:
Material Point Method
Level Set Method
Rigid Boundaries
Large-Deformation Analysis
Geotechnical Simulation
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