Product Overview:

This tutorial examines the simulation of cutting a concrete slab with a rigid cutter in Abaqus. Concrete cutting involves a controlled process of sawing, drilling, and removing concrete, carried out by skilled professionals using specialized saws equipped with diamond-impregnated blades. Unlike traditional methods that produce significant dust, such as jackhammers, modern concrete cutting techniques provide a clean, smooth finish and often use water to minimize mess. Various concrete cutting methods exist, with the most common being wall sawing, core drilling, and slab (or flat) sawing. Flat sawing, in particular, is a rapid and efficient diamond cutting method applied to horizontal surfaces, including concrete slabs, floors, bridge decks, and pavements.

In this simulation, the concrete slab is modeled as a three-dimensional component, while the cutter and supporting structure are represented as rigid bodies.

For this analysis, a dynamic explicit procedure is employed alongside general contact settings that include erosion capabilities. It’s important to refine the mesh size in the vicinity of the contact area to enhance accuracy. During the simulation, the cutter moves in a normal direction to effectively cut through the concrete slab.