DEM of triaxial tests on crushable sand

de Bono, John P.; McDowell, Glenn R.

Abstract

This paper presents simulations of high-pressure triaxial shear tests on a crushable sand. The discrete element method is used, featuring a large number of particles and avoiding the use of agglomerates. The triaxial model features a flexible membrane, therefore allowing realistic deformation, and a simple breakage mechanism is implemented using the octahedral shear stress induced in the particles. The simulations show that particle crushing is essential to replicate the realistic behaviour of sand (in particular the volumetric contraction) in high-pressure shear tests. The general effects of crushing during shear are explored, including its effects on critical states, and the influence of particle strength and confining pressure on the degree of crushing are discussed.

Citation

de Bono, J. P., & McDowell, G. R. (2014). DEM of triaxial tests on crushable sand. Granular Matter, 16(4), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-014-0500-x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jul 29, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 29, 2014
• Journal: Granular Matter
• Print ISSN: 1434-5021
• Electronic ISSN: 1434-5021
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-014-0500-x
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1000345
• Publisher URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10035-014-0500-x