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The influence of particle-size distribution on critical state behavior of spherical and non-spherical particle assemblies

Jiang, M. D.; Yang, Z. X.; Barreto, D.; Xie, Y. H.

Authors

M. D. Jiang

Z. X. Yang

Y. H. Xie



Abstract

This paper presents an investigation into the effects of particle-size distribution on the critical state behavior of granular materials using Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations on both spherical and non-spherical particle assemblies. A series of triaxial test DEM simulations examine the influence of particle-size distribution (PSD) and particle shape, which were independently assessed in the analyses presented. Samples were composed of particles with varying shapes characterized by overall regularity (OR) and different PSDs. The samples were subjected to the axial compression through different loading schemes: constant volume, constant mean effective stress, and constant lateral stress. All samples were sheared to large strains to ensure that a critical state was reached. Both the macroscopic and microscopic behaviors in these tests are discussed here within the framework of the anisotropic critical state theory (ACST). It is shown that both OR and PSD may affect the response of the granular assemblies in terms of the stress-strain relations, dilatancy, and critical state behaviors. For a given PSD, both the shear strength and fabric norm decrease with an increase in OR. The critical state angle of shearing resistance is highly dependent on particle shape. In terms of PSD, uniformly distributed assemblies mobilize higher shear strength and experience more dilative responses than specimens with a greater variation of particle sizes. The position of the critical state line in the e-p’ space is also affected by PSD. However, the effects of PSD on critical strength and evolution of fabric are negligible. These findings highlight the importance of particle shape and PSD that should be included in the development of constitutive models for granular materials.

Citation

Jiang, M. D., Yang, Z. X., Barreto, D., & Xie, Y. H. (2018). The influence of particle-size distribution on critical state behavior of spherical and non-spherical particle assemblies. Granular Matter, 20(80), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-018-0850-x

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 17, 2018
Publication Date Nov 3, 2018
Deposit Date Oct 18, 2018
Publicly Available Date Nov 3, 2018
Journal Granular Matter
Print ISSN 1434-5021
Electronic ISSN 1434-7636
Publisher BMC
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
Issue 80
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-018-0850-x
Keywords discrete element method, critical state, particle-size distribution, particle shape, fabric anisotropy
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1318261
Contract Date Oct 18, 2018

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Copyright Statement
This is a post-peer-review, pre-copy edit version of an article published in Granular Matters. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/[tbc]








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