Numerical techniques for fast generation of large discrete-element models

Ciantia, M. O., Boschi, K., Shire, T. and Emam, S. (2018) Numerical techniques for fast generation of large discrete-element models. Proceedings of the ICE: Engineering and Computational Mechanics, 171(4), pp. 147-161. (doi: 10.1680/jencm.18.00025)

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Abstract

In recent years, civil engineers have started to use discrete-element modelling to simulate large-scale soil volumes thanks to technological improvements in both hardware and software. However, existing procedures to prepare ‘representative elementary volumes’ are unsatisfactory in terms of computational cost and sample homogeneity. In this work, a simple but efficient procedure to initialise large-scale discrete-element models is presented. Periodic cells are first generated with a sufficient number of particles (enough to consider the cell a representative elementary volume) matching the desired particle size distribution and equilibrated at the desired stress state, porosity and coordination number. When the cell is in equilibrium, it is replicated in space to fill the problem domain. And when the model is filled, only a small number of mechanical cycles is needed to equilibrate a large domain. The result is an equilibrated homogeneous sample at the desired initial state in a large volume.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Shire, Dr Thomas
Authors: Ciantia, M. O., Boschi, K., Shire, T., and Emam, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
Journal Name:Proceedings of the ICE: Engineering and Computational Mechanics
Publisher:ICE Publishing
ISSN:1755-0777
ISSN (Online):1755-0785
Published Online:30 October 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 ICE Publishing
First Published:First published in Proceedings of the ICE: Engineering and Computational Mechanics 171(4):147-161
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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