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The mechanical behavior of soils has been traditionally described using
continuum-mechanics-based models. These are empirical relations based on
laboratory tests of soil specimens. The investigation of the soils at
the grain scale using discrete element models has become possible in
recent years. These models have provided valuable understanding of many
micromechanical aspects of soil deformation. The aim of this work is to
draw together these two approaches in the investigation of the plastic
deformation of non-cohesive soils. A simple discrete element model has
been used to evaluate the effect of anisotropy, force chains, and
sliding contacts on different aspects of soil plasticity: dilatancy,
shear bands, ratcheting, etc. The discussion of these aspects raises
important questions such as the width of shear bands, the origin of the
stress-dilatancy relation, and the existence of a purely elastic regime
in the deformation of granular materials. |
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