Small Strain Response of Random Arrays of Elastic Spheres Using a Nonlinear Distinct Element Procedure

Granular soil is presented in this work by 2-D random arrays of elastic, rough, quartz sphere using the 'distinct element' method. The original 3-D computer code TRUBAL, originally developed by Peter Cundall, has been modified at RPI by the introduction of a general solution to the Hertz-Mindlin contact problem. This was achieved by attaching a subroutine to the original code, which describes the nonlinear force-displacement relationship at the intergranular contacts, by means of plasticity theory and kinematic hardening. The above modified program (CONBAL-2) developed as part of another RPI project, can perform 2-D simulations and has already been used to study the dynamic small strain behavior as well as the large strain behavior of sand.