Computer simulation of three dimensional shearing of granular materials: Formation of shear bands

We used computer simulations to study spontaneous strain localization in granular materials, as a result of symmetry breaking non-homogeneous deformations. Axisymmetric triaxial shear tests were simulated by means of standard three-dimensional Distinct Element Method (DEM) with spherical grains. Carefully prepared dense specimens were compressed between two platens and, in order to mimic the experimental conditions, stress controlled, (initially) axisymmetric boundary conditions were constructed. Strain localization gave rise to visible shear bands, previously found experimentally under similar conditions by several groups, and different morphologies could be reproduced. We examined the stress-strain relation during the process and found good agreement with experiments. Formation mechanism of shear bands is discussed.