The mechanical behavior of soils has been largely investigated using
constitutive models. These are empirical relations based on laboratory
tests of soil specimens. The investigation of 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 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, failure, shear bands, ratcheting, etc. The discussion of these
aspects raises two important questions: Is the incrementally nonlinear
theory appropriate to describe the mechanical response of soils? And, does
a purely elastic regime exist in the deformation of granular materials?
Fernando Alonso-Marroquin
Ratcheting granulare Stoffe mechanisches Verhalten von Böden mikromechanische Interpretation plastische Bodenformationen