Investigation of Initial Static Shear Stress Effects on Liquefaction Resistance Using Discrete Element Method Simulations
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 20, Issue 7
Abstract
Prior laboratory and in situ investigations show that monotonic preshearing can have a significant effect on the cyclic response of granular materials. The underlying mechanics that are responsible for these changes in behavior in response to preshearing are not well characterized, however. Herein, we use the discrete-element method (DEM) to simulate undrained monotonic and cyclic simple shear tests with the constant volume method. Through published comparisons to laboratory data, DEM simulations have been shown to reasonably predict the cyclic response of granular materials, making them an appropriate tool for studying the effects of initial static shear stress on liquefaction initiation. Mechanical coordination number and the normal force-weighted fabric tensor are used to describe the evolution of fabric after monotonic preshearing and during cyclic loading. We find that higher initial static shear stress induces smaller cyclic strength in stress-controlled cyclic simple shear tests, but that there is no such effect in strain-controlled cyclic simple shear tests in which the normal force-weighted anisotropy is removed in the first three loading cycles. In addition, the stability of specimens is found to be closely related to pore-pressure increases. Finally, we show that the effect of initial static shear stress on liquefaction resistance is a combination of reduced stability before cyclic loading and accumulated shear strain during cyclic loading.
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Acknowledgments
The first author received support from the Oregon State University School of Civil and Construction Engineering during the course of this work. Funding from the National Science Foundation (CMMI 1538460) to support the second author is appreciated. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
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International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 20 • Issue 7 • July 2020
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© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Feb 20, 2019
Accepted: Jan 16, 2020
Published online: Apr 22, 2020
Published in print: Jul 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Sep 22, 2020
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