DEM Simulations of Undrained Triaxial Behavior of Granular Material
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 138, Issue 6
Abstract
The paper presents results of three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) simulations of axisymmetric undrained tests on loose assemblies of polydisperse spheres using a periodic cell. In the work reported, undrained tests were modeled by deforming the samples under constant volume conditions. The undrained (effective) stress paths are shown to be qualitatively similar to published physical experimental results. The onset of liquefaction (or temporary liquefaction) is identified by a redundancy index equal to unity, which defines the transition from solidlike to liquidlike behavior. This corresponds to a critical mechanical coordination number slightly in excess of 4. The results of the simulations also suggest that a reversal in the direction of the undrained stress path does not necessarily indicate temporary liquefaction. The undrained behavior obtained by the DEM simulations is found to be dependent on strain rate and the so-called temporary liquefaction phenomenon is only observed if the strain rate is sufficiently high.
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Acknowledgments
The work reported in this paper was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK (Grant No. GR/R91588).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 138 • Issue 6 • June 2012
Pages: 560 - 566
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 19, 2010
Accepted: Dec 8, 2011
Published online: Dec 10, 2011
Published in print: Jun 1, 2012
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