DEM studies on the effect of particle breakage on the critical state behaviours of granular soils under undrained shear conditions

Abstract A number of discrete element analyses undrained triaxial shear tests on crushable assemblies are performed using 3-dimensional particle flow code (PFC3D). The the samples is simulated by assigning different velocities at boundaries to control constant volume during shear. Particle breakage studied octahedral stress criterion and fragment spawning mode satisfying an Apollonian sphere packing. microparameters soils obtained simulating test results reported a Nansha calcareous sand. effects drainage condition critical state behaviours sand intensively examined. It found that do not affect slope p ′− q line. In e cs −( ′ / ) 0.7 space, line translates downward rotates clockwise when considered, whilst does intrinsic macro–micro correlations underlying explored analysing evolution representative micromechanical indicators such as coordination number, redundancy ratio, fabric force anisotropies.