Modelling of cutting tool – soil interaction – part II: macromechanical model and upscaling

Abstract

In the foregoing paper we have proposed a strategy for soil modelling based on the discrete approach. By considering the soil as an assembly of rigid disks we have developed a local model. The model concentrates at the contact level between the disks the real mechanical behaviour of the soil. For this purpose suitable contact models have been developed, where specific elasto-plastic laws have been implemented in the node-to-segment contact formulation.