Long-term cyclic triaxial tests with DEM simulations

Modeling the long-term performance of granular materials under cyclic loading conditions is still a challenge and a better understanding could provide a large benefit for the design of foundations. One typical application example are the foundations of wind turbines, for which the evolution of the soil mechanical behavior could lead to irreversible strain accumulation (with tilting and settlement) and dynamic resonance problems [1]. In this framework the Discrete Element Method [2] can provide useful information starting from a micromechanical point of view: It may allow engineers to increase their knowledge on the evolution of the mechanical behavior and to optimize the long-term design of these structures [3]. The present paper presents the capability of DEM to simulate a long-term cyclic drained triaxial test (up to 100,000 cycles). The results regard the progressive accumulation of plastic strain as function of the number of particles and the initial particles rearrangement. The influence of densification and contact orientation (anisotropy) in the evolution of the strength of the soil during the cyclic loading history is investigated.