Study on Influence of Mesoscopic Parameters on the Deformation Behaviors of Frozen Sand Under Plane Strain Conditions

This study quantitatively investigates the influence of inter-particle rotation moment transition and mesoscopic friction on the macroscopic mechanical behavior of frozen sand by integrating plane strain tests with discrete element simulations. Two distinct contact models were employed under different temperatures and loading rates. The numerical results demonstrate that the parallel bond model, which accounts for particle rotation, accurately reproduces the full-range stress–strain response, including the strain-softening stage, whereas the contact bond model underestimates post-peak strength due to its inability to transmit moments. It is revealed that taking the influence of rotation moment transition into consideration promotes the uniformity of the local deformation distribution, thereby enhancing the material’s ductility, while mesoscopic friction parameters directly govern the shear band inclination angle at failure. Discrepancies in shear band morphology between experiments and simulations—single versus X-shaped bands—are explained by the inclination of loading plates in physical tests. This study establishes quantitative links between mesoscopic interaction mechanisms and macroscopic responses, offering valuable insights for developing advanced constitutive models for frozen soil in engineering applications.