Particle shape consideration in dem triaxial test simulations

Abstract

Recent researches have been proved that particle shape significantly influences on granular soil mechanical behavior. In addition, it is considerable that undrained behavior of granular soil is a key step in geotechnical applications. In this paper a Discrete Element Method (DEM) approach has been used in which the shape of a particle is modeled by combining a set of overlapping spheres, which are connected to each other in a rigid way. Additionally, volume change has been prohibited during the simulation to model the undrained condition. The dependency of granular soil behavior on spherecity and angularity index has been examine by implementing several diverse spherecity and angularity indexes to the grains, both in drained and undrained conditions. Several triaxial tests with different confining pressures, initial void ratios and friction coefficients have been carried out on assemblies with different grain shapes. The Results have been demonstrated that particle shape has considerable effect on granular soils mechanical behavior.