Examining the rate dependency behaviour of sands using DEM simulations
Examining the rate dependency behaviour of sands using DEM simulations
Foundations supporting fixed wind turbines and platforms, such as monopiles in sandy soils, often exhibit the accumulation of permanent deformation over their extended operational lifespan. This behaviour is commonly associated with soil deformation resulting from numerous loading cycles induced by wind and wave loads, as well as the time-dependent characteristics of sands, specifically creep behaviour. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood. To investigate these mechanisms, this study employs a series of simulations of triaxial tests utilizing the discrete element method. A novel contact model based on the effects of microfracturing of asperities was proposed to capture the time-dependent behaviour. The simulation results show that the stress-strain relationships of the samples under different loading rates exhibited significant differences, which were consistent with the physical experimental results. The outcomes of these DEM simulations enhance our comprehension of the rate dependency of sands. The methodology employed in this study can be extrapolated to other scenarios where sands are subjected to intricate loading-unloading histories, with creep playing a crucial role that cannot be overlooked.
Ke Li; Jing Hu; Gang Deng; Zitao Zhang; Xuedong Zhang; Zheng Zhang
5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG2025)
3 - Constitutive models and soil behaviour modelling
https://doi.org/10.53243/ISFOG2025-176
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