Comparisons of shear strength of particulate materials determined by the direct shear test and DEM simulations

Abstract

This paper presents the two direct shear tests used to measure shear strength of particulate materials with large particles. These tests have been numerically simulated using discrete element method. Due to different packing methods in numerical modelling, three different simulations were performed which varying the material parameters of particles (i.e. friction and rolling friction of particles and between particles and walls). Numerical results are compared with laboratory tests results. The reasons for discrepancies of results between numerical and laboratory tests are analyzed in this paper. Moreover a reasonable method to minimize the effects of these differences is presented.