Particle-scale simulations of the compression and shearing of kaolin clay

Abstract

This paper presents a new model for particle-scale simulations of clay. Using the discrete-element method, featuring realistically shaped platelets with separate interactions between the various platelet surfaces, simulations of isotropic normal compression and triaxial shearing are performed. A normal compression line is established, and for the first time so is a critical state line, which is parallel to the normal compression line in e–log p space. The critical state line is obtained from conventional, constant mean stress and constant volume tests on normally consolidated and overconsolidated samples. The critical state line appears linear in q–p space and the first insights into a state boundary surface for the clay are established. This new model appears capable of capturing the key features of macroscopic clay behaviour.