Numerical Simulation of Triaxial Test on the Dense Sand by DEM

In this study, a numerical triaxial test simulation on the dense sand was carried out using the three dimensional particle flow code (PFC3D) with a linear contact model. The influences of the friction coefficients on the stress-strain behavior of the sand were analyzed. Numerical test results show that the higher friction coefficients lead to the higher peak strength for the dense sand. Further, the formation and development of the shear band was also investigated. Numerical simulation test proved that PFC3D can simulate triaxial test very well. It also showed that the microscopic parameters of the model can greatly influence the macroscopic behavior of the granular materials. The PFC3D numerical simulation method is able to capture the very small-strain behavior of the dense sand.