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A multiscale DEM-LBM analysis on permeability evolutions inside a dilatant shear band

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Abstract

This paper presents a multiscale analysis of a dilatant shear band using a three-dimensional discrete element method and a lattice Boltzmann/finite element hybrid scheme. In particular, three-dimensional simple shear tests are conducted via the discrete element method. A spatial homogenization is performed to recover the macroscopic stress from the micro-mechanical force chains. The pore geometries of the shear band and host matrix are quantitatively evaluated through morphology analyses and lattice Boltzmann/finite element flow simulations. Results from the discrete element simulations imply that grain sliding and rotation occur predominately with the shear band. These granular motions lead to dilation of pore space inside the shear band and increases in local permeability. While considerable anisotropy in the contact fabric is observed with the shear band, anisotropy of the permeability is, at most, modest in the assemblies composed of spherical grains.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support provided by the Geosciences Research Program of the U. S. Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-FG02-08ER15980 to Northwestern University. We also thank Professor Teng-fong Wong for fruitful discussion. We thank Professor Ronaldo I Borja and the anonymous reviewer for helpful suggestions that improved the paper.

Sandia National Laboratories is a multiprogram laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanics of Materials, Sandia National Laboratories, Mail Stop 9912, 7011 East Avenue, Livermore, CA, USA

    WaiChing Sun

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering, University of Portland, 500 N. Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR, 97203, USA

    Matthew R. Kuhn

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technology Institute A333, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA

    John W. Rudnicki

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  1. WaiChing Sun
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  2. Matthew R. Kuhn
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  3. John W. Rudnicki
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Correspondence to WaiChing Sun.

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Sun, W., Kuhn, M.R. & Rudnicki, J.W. A multiscale DEM-LBM analysis on permeability evolutions inside a dilatant shear band. Acta Geotech. 8, 465–480 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-013-0210-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-013-0210-2

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