Discrete element modeling of direct simple shear response of granular soils and model validation using laboaratory element tests

Antone Dabeet, Dharma Wijewickreme, Peter Byrne

In the proceedings of: GEO2011: 64th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, 14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 5th Pan-American Conference on Teaching and Learning of Geotechnical Engineering

Session: Laboratory Testing

ABSTRACT: The direct simple shear response of spherical granular particles was modeled using discrete element modeling. The modeling approach was validated using a series of laboratory direct simple shear (DSS) element test carried out on air-pluviated glass beads. The results of the model simulations were very similar to those from laboratory testing. The discrete element model also allowed the average lateral stress variations during shear loading to be computed. An overall increase in lateral stress with the progression of shearing was observed in this regard. The noted good agreement of the shear response between numerical modeling and experiments highlights the potential of discrete element modeling to effectively capture the behavior of granular materials.

RÉSUMÉ: La réponse au cisaillement simple direct (CSD) de la masse granuleuse sphérique a été modélisée en utilisant la méthode des éléments discret. modélisation a été validée à série CSD effectué sur des billes de verres . En général, les résultats des simulations ont été très proches de celles effectuées en laboratoire. Le éléments discret modèle a permis de calculer les variations de cisaillement. Nous avons constaté une augmentation globale de la force latérale avec la progression de cisaillement. Le bon accord entre la modélisation numérique et les expériences à la réponse au cisaillement souligne le potentiel de la modélisation par éléments discrets pour cerner le comportement des matériaux granuleux.

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