Biconcave bond model for cemented granular material

Abstract

This study presents a biconcave bond model for use with the distinct element method (DEM) to simulate cementation efficacy between two particles in granular materials. The proposed model adopts a more realistic shape of cementation and considers the elastic response of cementation under external loading. The stress field and force-displacement relationship of biconcave bond model are assessed according to the Dvorkin theory. To apply the theory to DEM analysis, a modified superposition method was used to improve the accuracy and symmetry of the stress field. To assess the validity of the modified Dvorkin theory, we compared the deformation behaviors with the numerical elastic analysis by using the finite element method (FEM). The stress field calculated using the modified Dvorkin theory was consistent with FEM result and was able to solve the reaction when two particles were in arbitrary motion. The proposed model was further verified with the behavior of assemblies of cemented aluminum rod. The results demonstrate that the model is effective with the cemented granular material under different compressive conditions. In addition, the required parameters of the proposed model can be acquired from the bond material properties rather than through conventional back calculation. This model provides an innovative means to simulate the behavior of cemented granular material.