Simulation of mechanical behavior for frozen sand clay by discrete element method

Based on the discrete element method (DEM), the model of particle flow for frozen sand clay has been established, the contact-bond model among balls is adopted in the simulation test. According to this model, the contact bond strength was employed to simulate the cementation of ice in the frozen sand clay. Comparison between the results of numerical simulations and laboratory tests under different temperature and confining pressure, the results shows good agreement between them. It is similar to the macro properties of frozen sand clay that the parameters of particle elements have the property of evident temperature-dependent. The results are valuable for developing the applicability of the DEM to analysis of special soil.