Identifier

etd-06192009-232613

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges in studying the engineering behavior of granular materials is the lack of tools for an unobstructed view of a large quantity of microscopic particles. This dissertation presents a thorough characterization of deformations in sheared granular materials. The investigation involves experimental programs, utilization of computed tomography (CT) techniques, and application of Distinct Element Method (DEM). The investigation was conducted at multi-scale (macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic) to better understand the physical properties and constitutive behavior of granular materials during shear. The experiments include conducting a series of axisymmetric triaxial, miniature axisymmetric triaxial, and biaxial experiments. They were focused on dense and dry specimens tested under low confining pressures. CT was used to acquire three-dimensional (3D) images of specimens to characterize particles properties and interaction at the mesoscopic and microscopic levels. Two types of CT systems were utilized; an industrial CT system capable of scanning relatively large specimen with medium resolution, and Synchrotron Micro-Tomography (SMT) system, capable of scanning smaller specimen with much higher resolution than industrial CT system. DEM algorithm written in Particle Flow Code in 3D was employed to simulate the laboratory experiments at a wide range of confining pressure levels. Two types of granular material were used; F-75 Ottawa sand and Johnson Space Center (JSC-1A) lunar regolith simulant. Results include particle micro-characterization, spatial void ratio distributions, quantification of shear band thickness, elucidation of localization phenomenon, particle contacts, and fabric evolution and development of stress-dilatancy empirical models. The main findings include: 1) spatial variation of void ratio in a test specimen is caused by localization effect, membrane confinement, and confining pressure; 2) the interface regions near shear bands were introduced and thickness calculation procedure was proposed; 3) good correlations were found between average particle contacts and void ratio; 4) the majority of particles within the shear band orient in the x-y plane, whereas particles outside the shear band have no preferred orientation; 5) empirical models was developed to predict the peak friction and the dilatancy; 6) DEM was capable of predicting the friction angles at very low confining pressure under terrestrial and reduced gravity environments.

Date

2009

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Khalid Alshibli

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.1956

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