Effect of Rolling Resistance on the Mechanical Behavior and Instability Response of Sand Subjected to Triaxial Compression and Extension Conditions

Abstract The present study attempts to examine the effect of rolling resistance on the mechanical behavior and instability response of sand subjected to triaxial compression and extension conditions. 3D-DEM based triaxial simulations have been performed with three different values of rolling resistance coefficient. With increasing rolling resistance, an overall increase in the stress response can be perceived for both the test conditions. Further, with a similar increase in the rolling resistance, an enhanced volumetric dilation is evident in triaxial compression; whereas, suppressed dilation has been observed under the triaxial extension. A single shear band has been noticed to form in all the triaxial extension simulations; however, no such band has been observed in the triaxial compression. The shear band thickness reduces with increase in the rolling resistance owing to the reduction in the particle rotation, which governs the suppressed volumetric dilation noted in the triaxial extension.