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Exploring the Evolution of Lateral Earth Pressure using the Distinct Element Method

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2013

M.-C. Weng ,
C.-C. Cheng  and
J.-S. Chiou
M.-C. Weng*
Affiliation:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 81148, R.O.C.
C.-C. Cheng
Affiliation:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 81148, R.O.C.
J.-S. Chiou
Affiliation:
National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering, Taipei, Taiwan 10668, R.O.C.
*
mcweng@nuk.edu.tw
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Abstract

This study adopted the distinct element method (DEM) to explore the key influencing factors on the variations of lateral earth pressure, including packing type, interior friction angle, particle stiffness and particle size. The reference parameters for the DEM model were retrieved from direct shear tests of a rod assembly. Based on the reference parameters, the evolution of lateral earth pressure is further simulated, and a parametric study was conducted. The results showed that: (1) the analysis model could effectively capture the variation of lateral earth pressure under both active and passive conditions, and the simulated failure patterns were consistent with those from the sandbox tests; (2) the greater interior friction angle ϕinterior decreased the active coefficient Ka and increased the passive coefficient Kp; (3) increasing particle stiffness decreased the active coefficient Ka and increased the passive coefficient Kp; (4) larger particle sizes led to a larger active coefficient Ka and a smaller passive coefficient Kp; and (5) when the particle assembly was arranged in order, its lateral pressure was much larger than that of the randomly packed assembly.

Keywords

Distinct element methodPFC2DLateral earth pressure
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Mechanics , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 77 - 86
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, R.O.C. 2014 

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