Strain localization analyses of idealized sands in biaxial tests by distinct element method

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical investigation on the strain localization of an idealized sand in biaxial compression tests using the distinct element method (DEM). In addition to the dilatancy and material frictional angle, the principal stress field, and distributions of void ratio, particle velocity, and the averaged pure rotation rate (APR) in the DEM specimen are examined to illustrate the link between microscopic and macroscopic variables in the case of strain localization. The study shows that strain localization of the granular material in the tests proceeds with localizations of void ratio, strain and APR, and distortions of stress field and force chains. In addition, both thickness and inclination of the shear band change with the increasing of axial strain, with the former valued around 10-14 times of mean grain diameter and the later overall described by the Mohr-Coulomb theory.