Discrete element modelling of normal compression of clay

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

Abstract

The discrete element method (DEM) has only rarely been used to simulate clay, due to difficulties in modelling clay particle shape and capturing the various particle interactions. This paper presents a new approach to simulate clay in three dimensions using DEM, featuring realistic particle shape and a new straightforward interaction law, which is able to reproduce all well-known characteristic platelet interactions. By varying the interactions between the platelets (including both the ‘edges’ and ‘faces’), it is possible to account for a range of environmental conditions. Simple sedimentation and one-dimensional compression tests are presented, which correctly reproduce the expected behaviour, confirming the validity of the model. Particle-scale analysis reveals the influence of the platelet interactions on the bulk behaviour, and it is also shown that platelet aggregation appears to lead to a fractal distribution of aggregated ‘stack’ sizes as a means of space filling.

Citation

de Bono, J. P., & McDowell, G. R. (2022). Discrete element modelling of normal compression of clay. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 162, Article 104847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2022.104847

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 2, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Mar 11, 2022
• Publication Date: May 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 14, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 14, 2022
• Journal: Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
• Print ISSN: 0022-5096
• Publisher: Elsevier BV
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 162
• Article Number: 104847
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2022.104847
• Keywords: Mechanical Engineering; Mechanics of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7545975
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002250962200062X?via%3Dihub