Discrete Element Modeling of the Resilient Behavior of Subgrade Sandy Soils

Subgrade soils are very important materials to support highways. Current AASHTO pavement design procedures recommend the resilient modulus (M sub r) of subgrade soils for pavement design and analysis. Laboratory repeated triaxial loading tests and field falling weight deflectometer (FWD) are two common ways to characterize the M sub r of subgrade soils. The primary objective of this study is to conduct numerical simulations of the resilient behavior of subgrade sandy soils under repeated triaxial loading conditions using a commercial discrete elements code, e.g., particle flow code in two dimensions (PFC2D). Stress-controlled loading scheme is designed using a commercial discrete element method (DEM) code, Particle Flow Code (PFC2D). One run with a confining stress of 41.4 kPa and deviator stress of 12.4 kPa is conducted for simulating the biaxial test of sandy soils under cyclic loading. Simulation results show that confining stress can be effectively applied to the testing sample. However, the error of axial stress is quite large. In addition, preliminary results of resilient behavior of sandy soils under cyclic loading are consistent with the classic results in real laboratories.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.08.057
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042813021836
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/18770428
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2013 Xiao Zhang
• Authors:
  • Zhang, Xiao
• Conference:
  • 13th COTA International Conference of Transportation Professionals (CICTP 2013)
  • Location: Shenzhen , China
  • Date: 2013-8-13 to 2013-8-16
• Publication Date: 2013-11-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 490-495
• Serial:
  • Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Volume: 96
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1877-0428
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/18770428/53
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deviatoric stress; Discrete element method; Modulus of resilience; Repeated loads; Sandy soils; Simulation; Subgrade (Pavements); Triaxial shear tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Confining stress
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01503417
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 7 2014 4:41PM