A micro finite-element model for soil behaviour: numerical validation

作者：Nadimi S^*; Fonseca J

来源：Geotechnique, 2018, 68(4): 364-369.

DOI：10.1680/jgeot.16.P.163

• fabric/structure of soils
• particle-scale behaviour
• numerical modelling
• sands

A micro finite-element (mu FE) model capable of handling arbitrary shapes and deformable grains has been developed by the authors. The basis of this mu FE model is to use a virtualised soil fabric obtained from micro computed tomography (mu CT) of real sand to simulate grain-to-grain interaction in a framework of combined discrete-finite-element method. By incorporating grain deformation into the model, the contact response emerges from the interaction of contacting bodies and each irregular contact area will produce a unique response. A detailed numerical description of grain morphology and contact topology of a natural sand and the subsequent simulation are presented in the original paper. The present study focuses on the numerical validation of the constitutive contact behaviour against existent theories, for a single sphere and an assembly of spheres. The ability of the model to simulate elastic-plastic behaviour making use of the deformability of the grains is demonstrated. The unloading-reloading behaviour associated with the geometrical arrangement of the grains for a granular assembly under triaxial compression is examined in terms of energy dissipation quantities.

• 出版日期2018-4