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

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.