Lobo-Guerrero, Sebastian
(2006)
EVALUATION OF CRUSHING IN GRANULAR MATERIALS USING THE DISCRETE ELEMENTMETHOD AND FRACTAL THEORY.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Granular materials forming part of embankments, foundations, pavement structures, and rail trackstructures are subjected to both static and dynamic loads. As a result of these loads particle breakage may occur. Particle breakage causes settlements and a reduction in the hydraulic conductivity of the granularmaterial. Moreover, the elastic modulus and the shear strength of the granular material are also negatively affected. Granular crushing is a detrimental phenomenon that deserves to be sudied in order to understand its causes, consequences, and ways to avoid it. Laboratory tests conducted on a weak granular material (sugar) and computer simulations (in the form of the Discrete Element Method, DEM) were usedto visualize, analyze, and understand the evolution of crushing in granular materials. The original DEM was modified to include the possibility of particle fragmentation. A tensile failure criterion developed by the author was programmed and incorporated into a commercial DEM code (PFC2D). The breakage model was also used to study the evolution of crushing in practical geotechnical applications. Fractal theory was used to quantify the amount of crushing produced under different conditions of stress and strain. In particular, the fragmentation fractal dimension was used to describe the changes on the grain sizedistribution of the analyzed materials.
Share
| Citation/Export: |
|
| Social Networking: |
|
Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
|
| Date: |
2 June 2006 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Defense Date: |
21 February 2006 |
| Approval Date: |
2 June 2006 |
| Submission Date: |
10 March 2006 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
discrete element method; fractal theory; Numerical modeling; particle crushing |
| Other ID: |
http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-03102006-112808/, etd-03102006-112808 |
| Date Deposited: |
10 Nov 2011 19:32 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 13:37 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/6472 |
Metrics
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[feed]](/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}