Multiscale Approach and Meso–Macro-Mechanical Analysis of Granular Materials

Abstract

A multiscale simulation method for modeling granular materials was proposed in this paper. The key links in this method were analyzed, and the computing framework was constructed. In this multiscale approach, the finite-element method was used to simulate the boundary value problem. From the discrete particle aggregation embedded in each gauss integral point, the constitutive relation was extracted for the overall solution. This approach did not require complex constitutive hypotheses on the macroscopic scale. The description of the contact constitutive behavior between particles was relatively simple on the mesoscopic scale. Meanwhile, the macroscopic response could be effectively described by the mesoscopic mechanism. After a program verification, a representative test was numerically modeled using this technique. Through biaxial compression multiscale test of particles, macro–mesoscopic mechanical properties were investigated. The present approach may prove useful in expanding our understanding of the mechanical behavior of granular materials.