Discrete Element Analysis of the K0 of Granular Soil and Its Relation to Small Strain Shear Stiffness
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18, Issue 3
Abstract
The discrete element method (DEM) was used to investigate the coefficient of earth pressure at rest, K0, of granular soils. The results indicate that K0 decreases as the void ratio decreases and the vertical stress increases. The K0 of specimens prepared by different methods may be quite different despite the void ratio and vertical stress being the same. The analysis reveals that at a particulate level, the coordination number of the soil determines the K0. Both DEM simulation and laboratory data indicate that there is a good relationship between the K0 and the small strain shear stiffness.
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Acknowledgments
The work presented in this paper was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (Grant 2016YFC0800204), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 51308408 and 51428901), and State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) (Grant SKLGDUEK1712). These supports are gratefully acknowledged.
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© 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Feb 1, 2017
Accepted: Sep 28, 2017
Published online: Jan 5, 2018
Published in print: Mar 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Jun 5, 2018
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