Behavior of gravity deposited granular material under different stress paths

Abstract

The behavior of granular material with different densities subjected to various stress paths was investigated by numerical modeling. The simulated samples consisted of two different kinds of ellipsoids. The ellipsoids were mixed in the proportions 50:50 by weight. The longer particles have an aspect ratio (major length/minor length) of 1.5, and the other particles have an aspect ratio of 1.2. The numerical experiments were conducted with the discrete element method. Three samples of different densities were simulated by deposition under gravity to mimic the air pluviation method. They were then consolidated isotropically. Eleven stress path triaxial tests were simulated for each sample. The strength and deformational behaviors of these samples are presented. The effects of density and stress path are examined.Key words: shear strength, granular material, soil mechanics, stress path, stress-strain curve.