Itasca PFC3D (Particle Flow Code in 3 Dimensions) is a powerful distinct-element modeling (DEM) framework developed by Itasca Consulting Group. It simulates the mechanical behavior of granular and solid materials by modeling the independent movement (translation and rotation) and interaction of rigid particles, such as spheres or rigidly connected clumps, in three-dimensional space. The software is part of the PFC Suite, which includes both PFC2D and PFC3D, and is widely applied in geotechnical, mining, civil, and materials engineering.
Key Features
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Distinct-Element Modeling (DEM): Simulates the dynamic behavior of assemblies of rigid particles (spheres, clumps, or polyhedra) interacting at contacts using Newton’s laws of motion and a soft-contact approach, allowing particles to overlap slightly to model contact forces.
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Particle Interaction: Supports sixteen built-in contact models and custom C++ User-Defined Contact Models (UDMs) to update internal forces and moments, enabling precise simulation of complex interactions.
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Flexible Particle Shapes: Models spheres, rigidly connected clumps, or convex polyhedra to represent diverse material structures, from granular soils to brittle rocks.
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Thermal Analysis: Includes a thermal module for simulating transient heat conduction, storage, and thermally induced strains/forces, supporting both thermal-only and coupled thermal-mechanical analysis.
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Powerful Scripting: Integrates FISH and Python scripting for model customization, advanced visualization, and innovative physics integration.
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Coupling Capabilities: Supports coupling with other Itasca software like FLAC3D for integrated modeling of continuum and discontinuum systems.
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User Interface: Features an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) with interactive visualization, extensive documentation, and examples for quick model setup.
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High Performance: Utilizes optimized shared memory multi-threading for simulations up to 5x faster than equivalent 3D models.
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Fluid-Particle Interaction: Includes equations to account for fluid-particle interactions, enhancing simulations of processes like hydraulic fracturing.
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Applications: Used for hydraulic fracturing, slope stability, rock cutting, bulk material flow, cave mining, and advanced applications in fields like carbon nanotubes and molecular dynamics
