Discrete‐Element Method for Simulating Behavior of Cohesive Soil
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 9
Abstract
The discrete‐element method has successfully been applied in the past to study constitutive behavior of granular materials. The method is applied in this paper to cohesive soils, where in addition to mechanical forces, there are physicochemical forces between particles, and there is significant bending of individual particles. Based on a recent study on the double‐layer repulsive force between inclined particles, the repulsive force is modeled approximately. The attractive force between particles is not considered in the present study. Dividing each particle into a number of interconnected discrete elements, bending of particles is simulated as part of the overall analysis. By employing suitable force‐displacement laws for the mechanical contacts, formation of new contacts, deletion of existing contacts, and slip between particles are modeled. The preliminary results presented here show the potential of the method for carrying out fundamental research into the stress‐strain behavior of cohesive soils.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Anandarajah, A. (1992). “Clays: a computer program for numerical analysis of an assembly of cohesive particles by the discrete element method.” Res. Rep., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
2.
Anandarajah, A., and Kuganenthira, N. (1994). “Some aspects of fabric anisotrophy of soils.” Geotechnique, 44(2).
3.
Anandarajah, A., and Lu, N. (1991a). “Structural analysis by distinct element method.” J. Engrg. Mech. Div., ASCE, 117(9), 2156–2165.
4.
Anandarajah, A., and Lu, N. (1991b). “Numerical study of the electrical double‐layer repulsion between non‐parallel clay particles of finite length.” Int. J. Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomech., 15(10), 683–703.
5.
Bolt, G. H. (1956). “Physico‐chemical analysis of the compressibility of pure clays.” Geotechnique, 6, 86–93.
6.
Chapman, D. L. (1913). “A contribution to the theory of electrocapillarity.” Philosophical Mag., 25(6), 475–481.
7.
Cundall, P. A. (1971). “A computer model for simulating progressive, large scale movements in blocky rock system.” Proc. Symp. Int. Soc. Rock Mech., Nancy 2(8).
8.
Cundall, P. A., and Strack, O. D. L. (1979). “A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies.” Geotechnique, 29(1), 47–65.
9.
Gouy, G. (1910). “Sur la constitution de la charge electrique a la surface d'un electrolyte.” Anniue Physique (Paris), 9(4), 457–468.
10.
Lu, N., and Anandarajah, A. (1992). “Empirical estimation of double layer repulsive force between two inclined clay particles of finite length. J. Geotech. Engrg. Div., ASCE, 118(4), 628–634.
11.
Martin, R. T., and Ladd, C. C. (1978). “Fabric of consolidated kaolinite.” Clays and Clay Minerals J., 23, 17–25.
12.
Satake, M. (1982). “Fundamental quantities in the graph approach to granular materials.” Proc., U.S./Japan Seminar on New Models and Constitutive Relations in the Mechanics of Granular Materials, Ithaca, N.Y., 9–19.
13.
Scott, R. F., and Craig, M. J. K. (1980). “Computer modeling of clay structure and mechanics.” J. Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 106(1), 17–34.
14.
van Olphen, H. (1977). An introduction to clay colloid chemistry. John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y.
15.
Verwey, E. J. W., and Overbeek, J. G. (1948). Theory of the stability of lyophobic colloids. Elsevier Publishing Company, Inc., New York, N.Y.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 15, 1993
Published online: Sep 1, 1994
Published in print: Sep 1994
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.