Abstract
This study has considered the behaviour of granular materials subjected to drained cyclic loading under constant mean effective stress. Using the discrete element method, cubical, isotropically compressed samples were subjected to 50 loading cycles at different values of mean stress (p' = 100, 200, 300 kPa) and different loading amplitudes (zeta = 5%, 10% and 20% of p'). At low cycle numbers, the deformation mechanism is controlled by contractive volumetric strains, before transitioning to the ratcheting regime, characterised by the persistent accumulation of plastic strains. An energy/work analysis showed that the volumetric work per cycle decreased as hysteresis loops tighten. During ratcheting, most boundary work was dissipated by contact sliding. The mechanical response was controlled by zeta, with little to no influence of p'. For zeta = 5%, deformations were confined to the elastic range, with no increase in secant stiffness G_{sec} or shear strength after cyclic loading. For zeta = 10%, G_{sec} and the shear strength increased after cyclic loading, although no significant expansion of the yield surfaces was observed. The largest loading amplitude (zeta = 20%) induced yielding at low cycles, leading to significant changes in the fabric, volume and yield surfaces of the samples, and a significant increase of shear strength and G_{sec}. At the micro-scale, graph theory was used to quantify the evolution of the contact network. After sim 20 loading cycles, the network reached a steady-state of constant but persistent topology changes in the material, with most of the topology retained between loading cycles.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.