摘要

Granular materials such as sand are subjected to different stress paths depending on the in-situ conditions. For example, a granular system under the foundations experiences conventional triaxial compression (CTC), while it experiences plane-strain compression (PSC) in the case of the embankment of roads. Due to the difference in the stress paths, the behavior of granular materials also becomes different. This paper aims at comparing the behavior of granular materials under CTC and PSC conditions using the 3D discrete-element method (DEM). An isotropically compressed dense sample consisting of 8000 spheres was prepared numerically using periodic boundaries. The CTC and PSC tests were simulated using the same isotropically compressed dense sample to compare and explore the macro- and micro-mechanical responses of granular materials without any bias from the initial fabric of the numerical sample. Qualitatively, the simulated stress-strain responses are consistent with that observed in the experimental studies. The dilatancy index is found to be independent of the stress paths used in the present study. The b value (defined as b = (sigma(2)-sigma(3))/(sigma(1)-sigma(3)) where sigma(1), sigma(2) and sigma(3) are the stresses in the x(1)-, x(2)- and x(3)- directions, respectively) - axial strain curve has a close similarity with the stress ratio - axial strain curve for the PSC test. The evolution of the coordination number and the sliding contact fraction is independent of the stress paths. A link between the macro- and micro-quantities is observed and a unique macro-micro relationship is noticed, regardless of the stress paths applied in this study

  • 出版日期2012