Micro-Macro Relationships in the Simulation of Wave Propagation Phenomenon Using the Discrete Element Method

Area of Science:

• Solid Mechanics
• Computational Material Science

Background:

• The discrete element method (DEM) is increasingly used for modeling complex material behaviors.
• Accurate determination of elastic properties is crucial for understanding material response under dynamic loading.
• Existing methods often rely on quasistatic tests, which may not fully capture dynamic behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the discrete element method's (DEM) effectiveness in simulating wave propagation within solid materials.
• To determine elastic properties of materials by analyzing wave velocities obtained from DEM simulations.
• To validate micro-macro relationships for elastic parameters under dynamic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Simulating longitudinal and shear wave pulse propagation in a rectangular sample discretized using discs.
• Establishing reference micro-macro relationships for elastic constitutive parameters via kinematic hypothesis and quasistatic uniaxial compression tests.
• Comparing elastic properties derived from dynamic wave propagation analysis with those from quasistatic simulations.

Main Results:

• DEM successfully modeled wave propagation, enabling the calculation of wave velocities.
• Elastic properties determined from dynamic wave analysis showed good agreement with quasistatic test results.
• The study confirmed the validity of established micro-macro relationships in dynamic DEM simulations.

Conclusions:

• The discrete element method (DEM) is a capable tool for modeling wave propagation and determining elastic properties in solid materials.
• DEM simulations provide a reliable method for assessing material dynamic behavior and validating constitutive models.
• This research supports the use of DEM for dynamic analysis, bridging the gap between quasistatic and dynamic material characterization.