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Anisotropic Coulomb failure criterion: From DEM to experiments

  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • University of California at Davis
  • National Technical University of Athens

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Sand deposited under gravity possesses significant inherent fabric anisotropy and thereby direction-dependent strength. Sand's shear strength anisotropy has been traditionally characterized by anisotropic Mohr-Coulomb criterion with friction angle depending on the angle between the bedding plane and principal stress direction. We argue, instead, that the generalization of an isotropic strength criterion to an anisotropic form should be based on the original Coulomb criterion, and the geometrical descriptor should be the angle ψb between the bedding plane and the failure plane.We employ a two-pillar approach to validate this argument. First, we use microstructure-conscious Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulation to create a master specimen of elongated virtual particles with natural fabric as a result of simulated gravity deposition. Direct shear and biaxial compression tests are simulated on virtual specimens "cut" out at various angles from the master specimen. Shear strength as a function of ψb over its full range between 0° and 180° was revealed, for the first time, to be not symmetrical in regards to ψb = 90, and the new relationship successfully predicts the emerging of of two types of failure planes that had been observed in biaxial compression tests but could not be explained by the anisotropic Mohr-Coulomb criterion. Second, we subsequently performed full-blown direct shear laboratory tests on three materials with distinct particle characteristics. Apart from uncovering a rich set of material behaviors related to strength anisotropy, in particular for the untested range of ψb from 90° to 180°, the laboratory test results' high resemblance to DEM simulation results demonstrates the great power of micro-scale simulation in the study of complex and unknown material responses. This demonstration is especially intriguing because here the DEM prediction of the ψb-strength curve shape was made and published before any laboratory results on real materials were available.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGeomechanics from Micro to Macro - Proceedings of the TC105 ISSMGE International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, IS-Cambridge 2014
PublisherTaylor and Francis - Balkema
Pages123-128
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781138027077
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
EventInternational Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, IS-Cambridge 2014 - Cambridge, United Kingdom
Duration: 1 Sep 20143 Sep 2014

Publication series

NameGeomechanics from Micro to Macro - Proceedings of the TC105 ISSMGE International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, IS-Cambridge 2014
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceInternational Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, IS-Cambridge 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityCambridge
Period1/09/143/09/14

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