Numerical simulation analysis of the coupled effects of particle shape and burial depth on soil arching behavior
DUAN Longjiang
LIU Yuanyuan
GUO Yushu
QUAN Daogang
LIU Yunfei
Fang Qian
Abstract：This study employs the discrete element numerical simulation method to systematically analyze the influence of particle shape(ball particles vs.clump particles)and burial depth conditions(deep burial vs.shallow burial)on the evolution of soil arching effects.By establishing a numerical model of the trapdoor test,and combining the dynamic variations of parameters such as force chains,basal contact forces,and pore ratio,this research elucidates the correlation between the micromechanical mechanisms and macroscopic responses of the soil arching effect.The results indicate that under deep burial conditions,higher confining pressure inhibits particle movement and promotes the formation of a stable force chain network,leading to a significantly en-hanced soil arching effect.In shallow burial models,clump particles are more prone to forming localized stress concentrations due to geometric interlocking effects,resulting in a superior soil arching effect compared to ball particles.Furthermore,the proposed soil arching ratio index(η)quantitatively demonstrates that an increase in trapdoor displacement leads to a decrease in soil arch ratio η,which can strengthen the soil arching effect.The findings provide relevant theoretical references for the analysis of load distribution and structural design in underground engineering under complex geological conditions.
Keywords：soil arching effectparticle shapeburial depthdiscrete element methodtrapdoor test
Publication Date：2025-08-30
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：10( 67-75,89 )