A novel constitutive model for double-twisted hexagonal meshes within the Macroelement framework

Marco Previtali; Matteo Ciantia; Giovanni Battista Crosta

doi:10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107673

A novel constitutive model for double-twisted hexagonal meshes within the Macroelement framework

Marco Previtali (Lead / Corresponding author), Matteo Ciantia, Giovanni Battista Crosta

Civil Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper presents a novel model for simulating double-twisted hexagonal wire meshes, commonly used in both active and passive rockfall barriers. The mechanical behaviour of the wires is first investigated through laboratory tests, which are then used to calibrate and validate a high accuracy continuum representation of the wire interweave. This model enables the analysis of the response of the wire mesh to loading conditions that can be difficult to obtain experimentally. The resulting data is used to develop a define the equations of a Macroelement model, which efficiently translates the insight from the wire to the barrier scale, improving the overall accuracy without compromising computational efficiency. Natural variability in the barrier response is introduced through a parameter correlation approach. Finally, the model is evaluated against standard literature approaches through simple boundary value problems.

Original language	English
Article number	107673
Number of pages	15
Journal	Computers and Geotechnics
Volume	190
Early online date	11 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107673
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 11 Oct 2025

Keywords

Flexible barrier
Multi-scale model
Macroelement
Double-twisted mesh

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10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107673Licence: CC BY

Final Published VersionFinal published version, 5.79 MBLicence: CC BY

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title = "A novel constitutive model for double-twisted hexagonal meshes within the Macroelement framework",

abstract = "This paper presents a novel model for simulating double-twisted hexagonal wire meshes, commonly used in both active and passive rockfall barriers. The mechanical behaviour of the wires is first investigated through laboratory tests, which are then used to calibrate and validate a high accuracy continuum representation of the wire interweave. This model enables the analysis of the response of the wire mesh to loading conditions that can be difficult to obtain experimentally. The resulting data is used to develop a define the equations of a Macroelement model, which efficiently translates the insight from the wire to the barrier scale, improving the overall accuracy without compromising computational efficiency. Natural variability in the barrier response is introduced through a parameter correlation approach. Finally, the model is evaluated against standard literature approaches through simple boundary value problems.",

keywords = "Flexible barrier, Multi-scale model, Macroelement, Double-twisted mesh",

author = "Marco Previtali and Matteo Ciantia and Crosta, \{Giovanni Battista\}",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A novel constitutive model for double-twisted hexagonal meshes within the Macroelement framework

AU - Previtali, Marco

AU - Ciantia, Matteo

AU - Crosta, Giovanni Battista

PY - 2025/10/11

Y1 - 2025/10/11

N2 - This paper presents a novel model for simulating double-twisted hexagonal wire meshes, commonly used in both active and passive rockfall barriers. The mechanical behaviour of the wires is first investigated through laboratory tests, which are then used to calibrate and validate a high accuracy continuum representation of the wire interweave. This model enables the analysis of the response of the wire mesh to loading conditions that can be difficult to obtain experimentally. The resulting data is used to develop a define the equations of a Macroelement model, which efficiently translates the insight from the wire to the barrier scale, improving the overall accuracy without compromising computational efficiency. Natural variability in the barrier response is introduced through a parameter correlation approach. Finally, the model is evaluated against standard literature approaches through simple boundary value problems.

AB - This paper presents a novel model for simulating double-twisted hexagonal wire meshes, commonly used in both active and passive rockfall barriers. The mechanical behaviour of the wires is first investigated through laboratory tests, which are then used to calibrate and validate a high accuracy continuum representation of the wire interweave. This model enables the analysis of the response of the wire mesh to loading conditions that can be difficult to obtain experimentally. The resulting data is used to develop a define the equations of a Macroelement model, which efficiently translates the insight from the wire to the barrier scale, improving the overall accuracy without compromising computational efficiency. Natural variability in the barrier response is introduced through a parameter correlation approach. Finally, the model is evaluated against standard literature approaches through simple boundary value problems.

KW - Flexible barrier

KW - Multi-scale model

KW - Macroelement

KW - Double-twisted mesh

U2 - 10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107673

DO - 10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107673

M3 - Article

SN - 0266-352X

VL - 190

JO - Computers and Geotechnics

JF - Computers and Geotechnics

M1 - 107673

ER -

A novel constitutive model for double-twisted hexagonal meshes within the Macroelement framework

Abstract

Keywords

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