Discrete Element Simple Shear Test Considering Particle Shape

Abstract

The particle shape has significant effects on the slip and rotation of particles in the shear of geomaterials, which is an important factor in the deformation and strength of geomaterials. This paper employed particle flow code (PFC3D) to simulate the simple shear test, and ellipsoidal particles with different aspect ratios were prepared to study the effects of particle shape on the mechanical behavior and fabric evolution of granular materials under complex stress paths. The numerical results show that the particle shape has a significant effect on the peak strength, dilatancy, non-coaxiality, and other mechanical properties of granular materials. The contact fabric evolves from orthotropy to transverse isotropy under the principal stress axes rotation. This paper will provide a reference for natural granular materials with different shapes in the study of mechanical behavior and the micro-constitutive model.

Investigating the Influence of Varied Particle Sizes on the Load-Bearing Properties of Arrester Bed Aggregates

“…However, the applicability of this method for analysing the load adaptability of pebble layers might be limited. Zhu [17] investigated the influence of particle shape on the mechanical behaviour and fabric evolution of granular materials under complex stress paths using shear tests. These tests play a crucial role in assessing the effects of pebble properties on contact mechanisms.…”