A three-dimensional nonlocal multiscale discrete-continuum model has been developed for modeling mechanical behavior of granular materials. In the proposed multiscale scheme, we establish an informationpassing coupling between the discrete element method, which explicitly replicates granular motion of individual particles, and a finite element continuum model, which captures nonlocal overall re...

Characterization of a geosynthetic is necessary for its effective use in various field application of reinforced soil structure. In this paper, a new type of geosynthetic has been evaluated for its interaction properties for different backfill soils using direct shear device. The test results are compared based on the type of soils, inclusions, and interface mechanical properties. Three backfil...

[1] Pore fluid pressure plays an important role in the frictional strength and stability of tectonic faults. We report on laboratory measurements of porosity changes associated with transient increases in shear velocity during frictional sliding within simulated finegrained quartz fault gouge (d50 = 127 mm). Experiments were conducted in a novel true triaxial pressure vessel using the double-di...

We investigate experimentally the mechanical response to shear of a monolayer of bidisperse frictional grains across the jamming transition. We inflate an intruder inside the packing and use photoelasticity and tracking techniques to measure the induced shear strain and stresses at the grain scale. We quantify experimentally the constitutive relations for strain amplitudes as low as 10(-3) and ...

Dense suspensions under sufficiently high shear stress can exhibit a dramatic transition to a solidlike state. This is known as extreme shear thickening and is sometimes accompanied by dilatancy. This behavior is contradictory; the material is solidlike but only when flowing. To probe the elasticity of the dilatant state, we measure the transient inertio-elastic oscillations that occur in respo...