Effects of confining pressure and loading path on deformation and strength of cohesive granular materials: a three-dimensional DEM analysis

Abstract

This paper is devoted to numerical analysis of strength and deformation of cohesive granular materials. The emphasis is put on the study of effects of confining pressure and loading path. To this end, the three-dimensional discrete element method is used. A nonlinear failure criterion for inter-granular interface bonding is proposed, and it is able to account for both tensile and shear failure for a large range of normal stress. This criterion is implemented in the particles flow code. The proposed failure model is calibrated from triaxial compression tests performed on representative sandstone. Numerical results are in good agreement with experimental data. In particular, the effect of confining pressure on compressive strength and failure pattern is well described by the proposed model. Furthermore, numerical predictions are studied, respectively, for compression and extension tests with a constant mean stress. It is shown that the failure strength and deformation process are clearly affected by loading path. Finally, a series of numerical simulations are performed on cubic samples with three independent principal stresses. It is found that the strength and failure mode are strongly influenced by the intermediate principal stress.