Effect of Cementation on the Cyclic Behaviour of Sands: A 3D DEM Investigation

Abstract Artificial or natural cementation introduced in sands alters the mechanical response of sand upon cyclic loading. This study uses 3D discrete element method (DEM) to evaluate the effect of cementation on the cyclic behaviour of sands. The cementation is explicitly simulated by cohesive tiny particles. The results indicate that the cementation contributes to the preservation of sand-sand contacts during the undrained cyclic loading and leads to an obvious enhancement in the liquefaction resistance of sands.