Abstract
It is widely recognised that particle shape influences the mechanical response of granular materials. Rolling resistance elasto-plastic contact models are frequently used to approximate particle shape effects in simulations using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). Such contact models require calibration of several micro-parameters, most importantly a rolling resistance coefficient. In this work, the value of rolling resistance is directly linked to true sphericity, a basic measure of grain shape. When shape measurements are performed, this link enables independent evaluation of the rolling resistance coefficient. It does also allow the characteristic shape variability of natural soils to be easily taken into account. In this work, we explore the effect of shape variability on the triaxial response of sand. It is shown, using realistic values of shape distributions, that shape variability significantly affects observed triaxial strength.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Wadell, H.: Volume, shape, and roundness of rock particles. J. Geol. 40, 443–451 (1932)
Krumbein, W.C.: Measurement and geological significance of shape and roundness of sedimentary particles. J. Sediment. Petrol. 11, 64–72 (1941)
Barret, P.J.: The shape of rock particle, a critical review. Sedimentology. 27, 291–303 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.1980.tb01179.x
Alshibli, K.A., Druckrey, A.M., Al-Raoush, R.I., et al.: Quantifying morphology of sands using 3D imaging. J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 27, 04014275 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001246
Jerves, A.X., Kawamoto, R.Y., Andrade, J.E.: Effects of grain morphology on critical state: a computational analysis. Acta Geotech. 11, 493–503 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-015-0422-8
Zhao, B., Wang, J.: 3D quantitative shape analysis on form, roundness, and compactness with micro-CT. Powder Technol. 291, 262–275 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2015.12.029
Andò, E., Hall, S.A., Viggiani, G., et al.: Grain-scale experimental investigation of localised deformation in sand: a discrete particle tracking approach. Acta Geotech. 7, 1–13 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-011-0151-6
Andò, E.: Experimental investigation of microstructural changes in deforming granular media using x-ray tomography. Mechanics. Université de Grenoble (2013)
Cundall, P.A., Strack, O.D.L.: A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies. Géotechnique. 29, 47–65 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1979.29.1.47
Katagiri, J., Matsushima, T., Yamada, Y., et al.: Simple shear simulation of 3D irregularly-shaped particles by image-based DEM. Granul. Matter. 12, 491–497 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-010-0207-6
Lu, M., McDowell, G.R.: The importance of modelling ballast particle shape in the discrete element method. Granul. Matter. 9, 69–80 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-006-0021-3
Elias, J.: DEM simulation of railway ballast using polyhedral elemental shapes. In: III International Conference Particle-based Methods – Fundamentals and Applications, pp. 1–10 (2013)
Langston, P., Ai, J., Yu, H.-S.: Simple shear in 3D DEM polyhedral particles and in a simplified 2D continuum model. Granul. Matter. 15, 595–606 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-013-0421-0
Kawamoto, R., Andò, E., Viggiani, G., Andrade, J.E.: All you need is shape: predicting shear banding in sand with LS-DEM. J. Mech. Phys. Solids. 111, 375–392 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2017.10.003
Iwashita, K., Oda, M.: Rolling resistance at contacts in simulation of shear band development by DEM. J. Eng. Mech. 124, 285–292 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(1998)124:3(285)
Jiang, M.J.J., Yu, H.-S., Harris, D.: A novel discrete model for granular material incorporating rolling resistance. Comput. Geotech. 32, 340–357 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2005.05.001
Wensrich, C.M., Katterfeld, A., Sugo, D.: Characterisation of the effects of particle shape using a normalised contact eccentricity. Granul. Matter. 16, 327–337 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-013-0465-1
Zhou, B., Huang, R., Wang, H., Wang, J.: DEM investigation of particle anti-rotation effects on the micromechanical response of granular materials. Granul. Matter. 15(3), 315–326 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-013-0409-9
Iwashita, K., Oda, M.: Micro-deformation mechanism of shear banding process based on modified distinct element method. Powder Technol. 109, 192–205 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0032-5910(99)00236-3
Estrada, N., Taboada, A., Radjaï, F.: Shear strength and force transmission in granular media with rolling resistance. Phys. Rev. E. 78, 1–11 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.78.021301
Acknowledgments
The support of EU through 645665—GEO-RAMP—MSCA-RISE and of the Ministry of Economy of Spain through research Grant BIA2014-59467-R is gratefully acknowledged.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Rorato, R., Arroyo, M., Gens, A., Andò, E., Viggiani, G. (2018). Particle Shape Distribution Effects on the Triaxial Response of Sands: A DEM Study. In: Giovine, P., Mariano, P., Mortara, G. (eds) Micro to MACRO Mathematical Modelling in Soil Mechanics. Trends in Mathematics. Birkhäuser, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99474-1_28
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99474-1_28
Published:
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-99473-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-99474-1
eBook Packages: Mathematics and StatisticsMathematics and Statistics (R0)