Discrete‐Element Method for Simulating Behavior of Cohesive Soil

Abstract

The discrete‐element method has successfully been applied in the past to study constitutive behavior of granular materials. The method is applied in this paper to cohesive soils, where in addition to mechanical forces, there are physicochemical forces between particles, and there is significant bending of individual particles. Based on a recent study on the double‐layer repulsive force between inclined particles, the repulsive force is modeled approximately. The attractive force between particles is not considered in the present study. Dividing each particle into a number of interconnected discrete elements, bending of particles is simulated as part of the overall analysis. By employing suitable force‐displacement laws for the mechanical contacts, formation of new contacts, deletion of existing contacts, and slip between particles are modeled. The preliminary results presented here show the potential of the method for carrying out fundamental research into the stress‐strain behavior of cohesive soils.