Simulation of the Resilient Modulus Test Using the Discrete Element Technique

This paper presents a numerical technique to simulate the resilient modulus test of aggregate materials based on the discrete element method. This technique enables a realistic modeling that takes into account the nature of the materials and loading conditions, and provides valuable information such as the grain rearrangement at the micro level. Numerical simulations were conducted to idealize the cyclic loading of compacted granular samples. These simulations showed that the discrete element method is capable of reproducing the results of the resilient modulus test and capturing the effect of confining pressure on the resilient modulus observed in actual laboratory testing. The resilient modulus exhibited an increase in value with the increase of the confining pressure. The results also showed that the deviator stress has an effect only at low confining pressures.