A particle refinement method for simulating DEM of cone penetration testing in granular materials

Abstract

Discrete-element modelling of cone penetration testing (CPT) of granular materials in a calibration chamber has been performed. It was established that simulating the entire chamber with a realistic particle size requires too many particles. Simulating a segment of the chamber partly solves the problem, but the number of particle contacts at the cone tip is unrealistically small. A particle refinement method was therefore developed whereby particles nearer the cone tip were smaller than those further away. This was found to give a pronounced effect on the ability to model CPT in soils using the discrete-element method.