Numerical model of hydro–mechanical coupling DEM–PFV and application for simulation of settlement of soil saturated in embankment due to static loading

Abstract

This paper presents the numerical model of hydro–mechanical coupling DEM–PFV using a combination of the discrete element method (DEM) for the solid phase and a pore–scale finite volume (PFV) of the flow problem. Numerical results at the microscopic scale on settlement of an embankment with soil saturated are presented denoting that the capable apply of the model DEM – PFV for predicting the settlement of granular material used in road embankments subjected to static loading. Comparison between the numerical result and the Terzaghi’s analytical solution of a soil consolidation problem shows the validation of the model DEM – PFV.