An introduction to the geometrical stability index: A fabric quantity

Abstract

Natural soils are often modelled as a continuum characterized by the composition of the soil, a particulate material. Yet, in situ, the fabric and structure of soil may govern its behavior. Discrete element modelling is used to simulate the composition of soil as a particulate material and develop fabric quantities. These quantities are presented as average quantities for a volume of particles. It is possible to use DEM to study the evolution of fabric at the particle level. This paper describes a state-of-the-art fabric term, referred to as geometrical stability index, ʎ, which can measure the contacts deviation of each particle from the most stable contacts arrangement during loading. The parameters required to define this new fabric term were attained from a designed algorithm. 2D discrete element method (DEM) biaxial test simulations were performed to validate the effectiveness of the geometrical stability index in defining the local instability. As the sample is loaded, a shear band is formed. The geometric stability index in that band increases relative to the surrounding relatively intact soil. Thus, a brittle failure is associated with an increase in the variation of inter-particle contacts from a stable configuration. The geometric stability index is able to model the development of discontinuities in a particulate material at the particle level. The DEM modelling results demonstrate the correlations between the new fabric term and the progressive of localized failure in densified particulate systems such as over consolidated clay, where the failure is a function of progressive development of local fissure spacing.