DEM analysis of the shear strength of cross-anisotropic sand with non-spherical particles Available to Purchase

This paper aims to investigate the shear strength of cross-anisotropic Toyoura sand by three-dimensional (3D) discrete-element simulation with non-spherical particles. Twenty true triaxial tests with constant mean pressure, different intermediate principal stress ratio [b = (σ₂ − σ₃)/(σ₁ − σ₃)] and different bedding angle δ (the angle between the bedding plane and the horizontal plane) were simulated. The results show that an increase in b induces a decrease in shear strength when δ is fixed. As the major principal stress direction changes from perpendicular to parallel with respect to the bedding plane, the shear strength decreases. The shear strength was characterised by a modified Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion by considering the influence of the material fabric. The characteristic of peak shear strength decreasing with b and δ can be well captured by the modified criterion. A 3D failure surface in φ–b–δ space was obtained from the simulated results; the combined influences of b and δ on the friction angle were investigated in detail. These varying characteristics of friction angle with b and δ can be captured by the modified strength criterion.