An Introduction to the Geometrical Stability Index: A Fabric Quantity

Natural soils are often modelled as a continuum characterized by the composition of the soil, a particulate material. Yet, in situ, the fabric and structure of soil may govern its behavior. Discrete element modelling is used to simulate the composition of soil as a particulate material and develop f...

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Main Authors: Ali Momeni, Barry Clarke, Yong Sheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-03-01
Series:Geotechnics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7094/2/2/13
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author Ali Momeni
Barry Clarke
Yong Sheng
author_facet Ali Momeni
Barry Clarke
Yong Sheng
author_sort Ali Momeni
collection DOAJ
description Natural soils are often modelled as a continuum characterized by the composition of the soil, a particulate material. Yet, in situ, the fabric and structure of soil may govern its behavior. Discrete element modelling is used to simulate the composition of soil as a particulate material and develop fabric quantities. These quantities are presented as average quantities for a volume of particles. It is possible to use DEM to study the evolution of fabric at the particle level. This paper describes a state-of-the-art fabric term, referred to as geometrical stability index, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>ʎ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>, which can measure the contacts deviation of each particle from the most stable contacts arrangement during loading. The parameters required to define this new fabric term were attained from a designed algorithm. 2D discrete element method (DEM) biaxial test simulations were performed to validate the effectiveness of the geometrical stability index in defining the local instability. As the sample is loaded, a shear band is formed. The geometric stability index in that band increases relative to the surrounding relatively intact soil. Thus, a brittle failure is associated with an increase in the variation of inter-particle contacts from a stable configuration. The geometric stability index is able to model the development of discontinuities in a particulate material at the particle level. The DEM modelling results demonstrate the correlations between the new fabric term and the progressive of localized failure in densified particulate systems such as over consolidated clay, where the failure is a function of progressive development of local fissure spacing.
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spelling doaj.art-0caa8861f2a5494090da6bdd30af6c172023-11-23T16:50:13ZengMDPI AGGeotechnics2673-70942022-03-012229731610.3390/geotechnics2020013An Introduction to the Geometrical Stability Index: A Fabric QuantityAli Momeni0Barry Clarke1Yong Sheng2WSP, 3 White Rose Office Park, Millshaw Park Ln, Leeds LS11 0DL, UKSchool of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKFaculty of Science and Engineering, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UKNatural soils are often modelled as a continuum characterized by the composition of the soil, a particulate material. Yet, in situ, the fabric and structure of soil may govern its behavior. Discrete element modelling is used to simulate the composition of soil as a particulate material and develop fabric quantities. These quantities are presented as average quantities for a volume of particles. It is possible to use DEM to study the evolution of fabric at the particle level. This paper describes a state-of-the-art fabric term, referred to as geometrical stability index, <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mo>ʎ</mo></semantics></math></inline-formula>, which can measure the contacts deviation of each particle from the most stable contacts arrangement during loading. The parameters required to define this new fabric term were attained from a designed algorithm. 2D discrete element method (DEM) biaxial test simulations were performed to validate the effectiveness of the geometrical stability index in defining the local instability. As the sample is loaded, a shear band is formed. The geometric stability index in that band increases relative to the surrounding relatively intact soil. Thus, a brittle failure is associated with an increase in the variation of inter-particle contacts from a stable configuration. The geometric stability index is able to model the development of discontinuities in a particulate material at the particle level. The DEM modelling results demonstrate the correlations between the new fabric term and the progressive of localized failure in densified particulate systems such as over consolidated clay, where the failure is a function of progressive development of local fissure spacing.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7094/2/2/13discrete element methodgeometrical stability indexfabricshear bandparticledeformable boundary
spellingShingle Ali Momeni
Barry Clarke
Yong Sheng
An Introduction to the Geometrical Stability Index: A Fabric Quantity
Geotechnics
discrete element method
geometrical stability index
fabric
shear band
particle
deformable boundary
title An Introduction to the Geometrical Stability Index: A Fabric Quantity
title_full An Introduction to the Geometrical Stability Index: A Fabric Quantity
title_fullStr An Introduction to the Geometrical Stability Index: A Fabric Quantity
title_full_unstemmed An Introduction to the Geometrical Stability Index: A Fabric Quantity
title_short An Introduction to the Geometrical Stability Index: A Fabric Quantity
title_sort introduction to the geometrical stability index a fabric quantity
topic discrete element method
geometrical stability index
fabric
shear band
particle
deformable boundary
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7094/2/2/13
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