Yielding of Microstructured Geomaterial by Distinct Element Method Analysis |
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Authors: | Mingjing Jiang Serge Leroueil Jean-Marie Konrad |
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Affiliation: | 1Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Nottingham Centre for Geomechanics, School of Civil Engineering, The Univ. of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD U.K. (corresponding author). E-mail: mingjing.jiang@nottingham.ac.uk. 2Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. Laval, Ste-Foy PQ, Canada G1K 7P4. E-mail: Serge.Leroueil@gci.ulaval.ca 3Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. Laval, Ste-Foy PQ, Canada G1K 7P4. E-mail: Jean-Marie.Konrad@gci.ulaval.ca
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Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to present macro- and micro-study on the yielding of microstructured geomaterials by numerical experiments. This target is achieved by carrying out 63 one-dimensional and biaxial compressions tests on an idealized bonded geomaterial with an extension of distinct element method, into which bond contact models proposed were implemented. Numerical results indicate that: (a) preconsolidated pressure appears to attribute to bond and looseness in the geomaterials, and an increase in void ratio leads to a decrease in yielding stress in one-dimensional tests; (b) an increase in bonding strength at interparticle contacts results in an increase in yielding stress and cohesion, and an internal friction angle that is smaller than the critical state value; (c) the observed first-yielding (initiation of bond breakage) is stress path dependent, and gross-yield (defined with respect to volumetric strain) of microstructured geomaterials is evidently related to bond breakage. |
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Keywords: | Geomaterials Yield Microstructures Bonding Numerical models Discrete elements Micromechanics |
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