Discrete element simulations to predict the response of bio-cemented sands

Abstract

Discrete element method (DEM)-based numerical models in the YADE environment are used to simulate the constitutive response of uncemented and bio-cemented sands to investigate the influence of boundary conditions, loading and testing conditions, and material types. Both the classical DEM model and the pore scale finite volume (PFV)-coupled DEM model are used to simulate the response of saturated uncemented and lightly cemented sands with a rigid wall boundary under both drained and undrained triaxial compression. A DEM model with flexible boundaries created using particle facet (PFacet) elements is used to simulate undrained triaxial compression of moderately cemented sands, including the influence of confining stress. The PFacet-based model is used to predict the transition from barreling failure to shear banding when the confining stress or the cementation degree increases. The classical DEM model with cohesive bonds of uniform strength is also used to successfully simulate the uniaxial compression response of a sand with an extremely high degree of cementation. Finally, this paper presents a particle-packing model consisting of multiple solid phases for cemented sands based on the understanding that not all particle types will have the same cohesive properties. This multiple solid-phase model is a refinement of the classical DEM model that represents the particle physics more realistically, especially for heterogeneous systems. A preliminary parametric study is carried out considering varying cohesive properties and volume fractions for the different solid phases.

Keywords

Discrete element method (DEM) / Triaxial compression / Unconfined compression / Bio-cementation / Shear band

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Pu Yang: Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Data curation, Conceptualization. Edward Kavazanjian: Writing - review & editing, Supervision, Methodology, Funding acquisition. Narayanan Neithalath: Writing - review & editing, Supervision, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Edward Kavazanjian is the Honorary Editor-in-Chief of Biogeotechnics, and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support for this study from National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Engineering Research Centers (ERC) program, grant EEC-1449501. The authors are grateful for the support from NSF. Any opinions or positions expressed in this paper are those of the authors only, and do not reflect those of the funding agency.

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