Multiscale Morphological Effects on Stress-Dilation Behaviors of Natural Sands: A 3D Printing Simulation Method
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 148, Issue 9
Abstract
Particle morphology is a basic inherent feature of granular materials that plays an important role on their macroscopic behaviors. A multiscale description of particle morphology is generally developed from three levels: large (general form), medium (local roundness), and small (surface roughness). The morphological features of two typical natural sands (Fujian sand and calcareous sand) were investigated in the present study based on spherical harmonic (SH) analysis. Three-dimensional (3D) printing was employed to develop the mass manufacture of grains with independent control of morphology and material properties. Full-scale morphologies of the sphere, Fujian sand (FS) as well as calcareous sand (CS), and single-scale morphologies of calcareous sand at large-(CS24), medium-(CS58), and small-(CS915) levels were printed. A series of triaxial tests were performed on these printed grains to explore their strength-dilation behaviors. The results suggested obvious strain-softening and volume-dilation behaviors were observed at a confining pressure varying from 20 to 100 kPa. A significant enhancement of both shear strength and bulk dilation was indicated from irregularly shaped particles compared with the volume-equivalent spheres. Also, the morphologically derived enhancement of shear strength is weakened from the general form to surface roughness while the enhancement of dilation is the strongest at the medium-scale level of local roundness, indicating different morphological origins between strength and dilatancy. In addition, Bolton’s dilatancy coefficient is a fixed value of 0.452 in this paper, independent of particle shape.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the research grants (No. 51979087) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors are also grateful to Qincheng Wang for helpful suggestions during preparation of this manuscript.
References
Altuhafi, F., and M. R. Coop. 2011. “Changes to particle characteristics associated with the compression of sands.” Géotechnique 61 (6): 459–471. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.9.P.114.
Athanassiadis, A. G., M. Z. Miskin, P. Kaplan, N. Rodenberg, S. H. Lee, J. Merritt, E. Brown, J. Amend, H. Lipson, and H. M. Jaeger. 2014. “Particle shape effects on the stress response of granular packings.” Soft Matter 10 (1): 48–59. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3SM52047A.
Barrett, P. 1980. “The shape of rock particles: A critical review.” Sedimentology 27 (3): 291–303. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.1980.tb01179.x.
Beunder, E., and P. Rem. 1999. “Screening kinetics of cylindrical particles.” Int. J. Miner. Process. 57 (1): 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-7516(99)00007-1.
Bolton, M. 1986. “The strength and dilatancy of sands.” Géotechnique 36 (1): 65–78. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1986.36.1.65.
Garboczi, E. J. 2002. “Three-dimensional mathematical analysis of particle shape using X-ray tomography and spherical harmonics: Application to aggregates used in concrete.” Cem. Concr. Res. 32 (10): 1621–1638. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(02)00836-0.
Gong, J., Z. Nie, Y. Zhu, Z. Liang, and X. Wang. 2019. “Exploring the effects of particle shape and content of fines on the shear behavior of sand-fines mixtures via the DEM.” Comput. Geotech. 106 (Dec): 161–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2018.10.021.
Gupta, R., S. Salager, K. Wang, and W. Sun. 2019. “Open-source support toward validating and falsifying discrete mechanics models using synthetic granular material—Part I: Experimental tests with particles manufactured by a 3D printer.” Acta Geotech. 14 (4): 923–937. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-018-0703-0.
Hanaor, D., Y. Gan, M. Revay, D. Airey, and I. Einav. 2016. “3D printable geomaterials.” Géotechnique 66 (4): 323–332. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.15.P.034.
James, M. R., and S. Robson. 2012. “Straightforward reconstruction of 3D surfaces and topography with a camera: Accuracy and geoscience application.” J. Geophys. Res. Earth Surf. 117 (3): 112. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JF002289.
Koerner, R. M. 1970. “Effect of particle characteristics on soil strength.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div. 96 (4): 1221–1234. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSFEAQ.0001436.
Krumbein, W. C. 1941. “Measurement and geological significance of shape and roundness of sedimentary particles.” J. Sediment. Res. 11 (2): 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1306/D42690F3-2B26-11D7-8648000102C1865D.
Kruyt, N. P., and L. Rothenburg. 2016. “A micromechanical study of dilatancy of granular materials.” J. Mech. Phys. Solids 95 (23): 411–427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2016.01.019.
Liang, H., Y. Shen, J. Xu, and X. Shen. 2021. “Multiscale three-dimensional morphological characterization of calcareous sand particles using spherical harmonic analysis.” Front. Phys. 9 (Sep): 496. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2021.744319.
Lin, C., and J. Miller. 2005. “3d characterization and analysis of particle shape using X-ray microtomography (XMT).” Powder Technol. 154 (1): 61–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2005.04.031.
Matsushima, T., and C. S. Chang. 2011. “Quantitative evaluation of the effect of irregularly shaped particles in sheared granular assemblies.” Granular Matter 13 (3): 269–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-011-0263-6.
Matuttis, H., S. Luding, and H. Herrmann. 2000. “Discrete element simulations of dense packings and heaps made of spherical and non-spherical particles.” Powder Technol. 109 (1–3): 278–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0032-5910(99)00243-0.
Ouadfel, H., and L. Rothenburg. 1999. “An algorithm for detecting inter-ellipsoid contacts.” Comput. Geotech. 24 (4): 245–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-352X(99)00013-0.
Pagliai, M., and N. Vignozzi. 2002. “Image analysis and microscopic techniques to characterize soil pore system.” In Physical methods in agriculture, 13–38. Berlin: Springer.
Santamarina, J. C., and G.-C. Cho. 2004. “Soil behaviour: The role of particle shape.” In Proc., Three Day Conf. on Advances in Geotechnical Engineering, Organised by the Institution of Civil Engineers and Held at the Royal Geographical Society, 604–617. London: Thomas Telford.
Sharma, A., A. R. Leib-Day, M. M. Thakur, and D. Penumadu. 2021. “Effect of particle morphology on stiffness, strength and volumetric behavior of rounded and angular natural sand.” Materials 14 (11): 3023. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14113023.
Shen, L., and F. Makedon. 2006. “Spherical mapping for processing of 3D closed surfaces.” Image Vis. Comput. 24 (7): 743–761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imavis.2006.01.011.
Shi, X. S., K. Liu, and J. Yin. 2021. “Effect of initial density, particle shape, and confining stress on the critical state behavior of weathered gap-graded granular soils.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 147 (2): 04020160. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002449.
Su, Y. F., S. J. Lee, and B. Sukumaran. 2020. “Influence of particle morphology simplification on the simulation of granular material behavior.” Granular Matter 22 (1): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-019-0987-2.
Wadell, H. 1932. “Volume, shape, and roundness of rock particles.” J. Geol. 40 (5): 443–451. https://doi.org/10.1086/623964.
Wadell, H. 1933. “Sphericity and roundness of rock particles.” J. Geol. 41 (3): 310–331. https://doi.org/10.1086/624040.
Wei, D., Z. Wang, J.-M. Pereira, and Y. Gan. 2021. “Permeability of uniformly graded 3D printed granular media.” Geophys. Res. Lett. 48 (5): 12. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL090728.
Wu, K., N. Abriak, F. Becquart, P. Pizette, S. Remond, and S. Liu. 2017. “Shear mechanical behavior of model materials samples by experimental triaxial tests: Case study of 4 mm diameter glass beads.” Granular Matter 19 (4): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-017-0753-2.
Xiao, Y., L. Long, T. M. Evans, H. Zhou, H. Liu, and A. W. Stuedlein. 2019. “Effect of particle shape on stress-dilatancy responses of medium-dense sands.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (2): 04018105. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001994.
Xing, Y., J. Zheng, J. Li, Y. Cao, W. Pan, J. Zhang, and Y. Wang. 2021. “X-ray tomography investigation of cyclically sheared granular materials.” Phys. Rev. Lett. 126 (4): 048002. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.048002.
Yan, B., and R. A. Regueiro. 2021. “Influence of particle shape on microstructure of granular materials under gravity.” J. Eng. Mech. 147 (11): 04021102. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0002011.
Zhao, B., J. Wang, M. R. Coop, G. Viggiani, and M. Jiang. 2015. “An investigation of single sand particle fracture using X-ray micro-tomography.” Géotechnique 65 (8): 625–641. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.4.P.157.
Zhou, B., J. Wang, and B. Zhao. 2015. “Micromorphology characterization and reconstruction of sand particles using micro X-ray tomography and spherical harmonics.” Eng. Geol. 184 (18): 126–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.11.009.
Zhou, W., G. Ma, X. Chang, and C. Zhou. 2013. “Influence of particle shape on behavior of rockfill using a three-dimensional deformable DEM.” J. Eng. Mech. 139 (12): 1868–1873. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0000604.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 148 • Issue 9 • September 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 12, 2021
Accepted: Apr 5, 2022
Published online: Jun 24, 2022
Published in print: Sep 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Nov 24, 2022
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Calcareous soils
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Grain (material)
- Granular materials
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic properties
- Hydraulic roughness
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Particles
- Shear strength
- Soil analysis
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soils (by type)
- Strength of materials
- Water and water resources
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Hui Liang, Yang Shen, Shizhuang Chen, Jiayi Shen, Junhong Xu, Effect of Multiscale Particle Morphology on Small-Strain Shear Modulus of Irregularly Shaped Sand under Isotropic Consolidation: Triaxial Bender Element Tests on 3D-Printed Sand, Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 10.1061/JENMDT.EMENG-7306, 150, 4, (2024).
- Yang Xiao, Qingyun Fang, Armin W. Stuedlein, T. Matthew Evans, Effect of Particle Morphology on Strength of Glass Sands, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/IJGNAI.GMENG-8661, 23, 8, (2023).