Discrete element method simulation of triaxial tests on biocemented sand

What is it about?

The discrete element method is used to model the behavior of an assmblege of aprticles bound together by biocementation when subject to triaxial compression loadng

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Why is it important?

Flexible membrane boundaries are created using particle facets (PFacets) as the building blocks and undrained triaxial compression is successfully modeled using PFacet-based membrane boundaries. The macroscale response of sands with varying degrees of cementation is captured by this model. Cohesive bond strength, used to express the degree of cementation, is found to be well related to the shear-wave velocity of the soil sample. The model correctly predicts the occurrence of strain localization in cemented media, and the expected trends in shear band formation.