The Synergistic Effects of the Particle Elongation Index and Flat Index on Aggregate Strength and Dilatancy: A Discrete Element Method Study
Source abstract
Abstract
To address the limitations in conventional granular morphology characterization where excessive emphasis has been placed on elongation index (EI) while neglecting flatness index (FI) and their coupled interactions, this study establishes an EI/FI co-regulated dual-parameter morphological characterization framework. Through integrated triaxial compression experiments and discrete element simulations, we systematically investigate multi-scale mechanical responses spanning macroscopic stress–strain behavior to microscopic force-chain evolution. The results show that (1) the regulation of pore structure by morphological parameters presents non-linear characteristics, and (2) the evolution of peak shear strength is predominantly governed by morphological anisotropy. (3) The parabolic relationship between the maximum dilatancy angle and the morphological parameters is shown. (4) The micro mechanical analysis reveals that EI/FI parameters have limited influence on the statistical distribution characteristics of the contact force chain, but have a significant regulatory effect on the anisotropic evolution of the force-chain network.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Geotechnical Engineering and Analysis · Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Mechanics · Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Key Laboratory of Health Intelligent Perception and Ecological Restoration of River and Lake, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China
References (36)
Show source-provided references
1. Response of embankment on liquefiable soil to sequential ground motions considering mitigation measures10.1016/j.soildyn.2023.108278 ↗
2. Experimental study on the longitudinal evolution of the overtopping breaching of concrete-face sand-gravel dams10.1007/s10064-023-03132-4 ↗
3. Prediction intervals for concrete face sandy gravel dam settlement using Kalman filter-based kernel extreme learning machine10.1016/j.measurement.2024.115094 ↗
4. Deformation properties improvement of cement stabilized gravel using rubber: Laboratory and field study10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131975 ↗
5. Investigation of geomechanical characterization and size effect of soil-rock mixture: A case study10.1007/s10064-021-02289-0 ↗
6. Methodology for Simulation of Irregularly Shaped Gravel Grains and Its Application to DEM Modeling10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000676 ↗
7. Triaxial Discrete Element Simulation of Soil–Rock Mixture with Different Rock Particle Shapes under Rigid and Flexible Loading Modes10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002081 ↗
8. 3D characteristic indicator analysis and comprehensive evaluation of manufactured sand particles used in high-performance concrete
9. Study on soil-rock slope instability at mesoscopic scale using discrete element method10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105268 ↗
10. Triaxial tests of soil–rock mixtures with different rock block distributions10.1016/j.sandf.2016.01.004 ↗
11. Mahinroosta, R., and Oshtaghi, V. (2021). The effect of particle shape on the deformation and stress reduction of a gravel soil due to wetting. Sci. Rep., 11.10.1038/s41598-021-95731-y ↗
12. Dependence of shape on particle size for a crushed rock railway ballast10.1007/s10035-013-0437-5 ↗
13. A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies10.1680/geot.1979.29.1.47 ↗
14. Han, Z.H., Zhang, L.Q., and Zhou, J. (2019). Numerical Investigation of Mineral Grain Shape Effects on Strength and Fracture Behaviors of Rock Material. Appl. Sci., 9.10.3390/app9142855 ↗
15. DEM investigation on sandy soil behaviors under the influence of particle shape10.1016/j.powtec.2024.119835 ↗
16. A coupled FEM-DEM study on mechanical behaviors of granular soils considering particle breakage10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105529 ↗
17. DEM exploration of the effect of particle shape on particle breakage in granular assemblies10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103542 ↗
18. A grain based modeling study of mineralogical factors affecting strength, elastic behavior and micro fracture development during compression tests in granites10.1016/j.engfracmech.2015.09.008 ↗
19. A 3D Voronoi clump based model for simulating failure behavior of brittle rock10.1016/j.engfracmech.2021.107720 ↗
20. Numerical simulations of deviatoric shear deformation of granular media10.1680/geot.2000.50.1.43 ↗
21. Discrete numerical modeling of loose soil with spherical particles and interparticle rolling friction10.1007/s10035-016-0687-0 ↗
22. Benmebarek, M.A., and Movahedi, R.M. (2023). Effect of Rolling Resistance Model Parameters on 3D DEM Modeling of Coarse Sand Direct Shear Test. Materials, 16.10.3390/ma16052077 ↗
23. GPU based discrete element modeling for convex polyhedral shape particles: Development and validation10.1016/j.powtec.2024.120407 ↗
24. A resolved SPH-DEM coupling method for analysing the interaction of polyhedral granular materials with fluid
25. Algorithm for generation of 3D polyhedrons for simulation of rock particles by DEM and its application to tunneling in boulder-soil matrix10.1016/j.tust.2020.103588 ↗
26. Quantifying the effects of elongation and flatness on the shear behavior of realistic 3D rock aggregates based on DEM modeling10.1016/j.apt.2021.02.035 ↗
27. Experimental insight into the particle morphology changes associated with landslide movement10.1007/s10346-018-1113-y ↗
28. Particle shape: A review and new methods of characterization and classification10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00892.x ↗
29. Effect of aspect ratio on triaxial compression of multi-sphere ellipsoid assemblies simulated using a discrete element method10.1016/j.partic.2016.07.007 ↗
30. Competition mechanism between dilation and interlocking in granular soils: DEM simulation and constitutive modeling10.1007/s11440-022-01552-2 ↗
31. Investigating the effects of elongation and flatness on the shear be-haviour of breakable granular materials via the DEM10.1007/s10035-022-01237-3 ↗
32. Exploring the effect of particle shape caused by erosion on the shear behaviour of granular materials via the DEM10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.05.004 ↗
33. DEM study on the effect of roundness on the shear behaviour of granular materials10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103457 ↗
34. Force chains and contact network topology in sheared packings of elongated particles10.1103/PhysRevE.85.031303 ↗
35. 3D DEM insights into the effect of particle overall regularity on macro and micro mechanical behaviours of dense sands10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103965 ↗
36. Satake, M. (September, January 31). Fabric tensor in granular materials. Proceedings of the IUTAM Conference on Deformation and Failure of Granular Materials, Delft, The Netherlands.