Abstract

This paper presents a local constitutive model for modelling the linear and non linear behavior of soft and hard cohesive materials with the discrete element method (DEM). We present the results obtained in the analysis with the DEM of cylindrical samples of cement, concrete and shale rock materials under a uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) test, different triaxial tests, a uniaxial strain compaction (USC) test and a brazilian tensile strength (BTS) test. DEM results compare well with the experimental values in all cases.

Abstract

We present a numerical procedure for elastic and non linear analysis (including fracture situations) of solid materials and structures using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). It can be applied to strongly cohesive frictional materials such as concrete and rocks. The method consists on defining the non-local constitutive equations at the contact interfaces between discrete particles using the information provided by the stress tensor over the neighbour particles. The method can be used with different yield surfaces and in the paper it is applied to the analysis of fracture of concrete samples. Good comparison with experimental results is obtained.