Modeling of instability in cemented granular materials with an enhanced multiscale model
Abstract
Micromechanics of cemented granular materials provides a critical perspective for analyzing their complex macroscopic behavior, particularly regarding the progressive degradation of microscopic inter-particle bonds.Different from phenomenological approaches, multiscale modeling offers a powerful framework for linking grainscale mechanics to macroscopic material responses. Building upon the previously developed two-dimensional H -bond model, this study introduces statistical heterogeneity in inter-particle bond strengths and combines it with previously proposed configurational reactions to describe progressive bond failure and post-breakage mesostructural reconfiguration. By mathematically formulating bonded contact stiffness, progressive bond damage, and the ultimate transition toward purely frictional behavior, the model seamlessly upscales these micro-mechanisms to the representative elementary volume (REV) level via statistical homogenization. Analytical predictions confirm that the H -bond model accurately reproduces the essential macroscopic signatures of cemented granular materials under given loading paths, providing predictive physical insights that surpass traditional empirical methods. To extend its applicability to boundary value problems, the proposed framework is implemented as a VUMAT subroutine within Abaqus/Explicit. Leveraging this computational capability to simulate a particular landslide, the analysis demonstrates that progressive bond degradation critically governs the onset of macroscopic instability, successfully capturing complex failure mechanisms. Ultimately, this work establishes a computationally tractable and physically rigorous paradigm for embedding microstructural failure mechanisms into large-scale geotechnical analyses.
Related
- Predicting the Elastic Properties of a Cemented Granular Material during Chemical Damage (Debonding)
- Origin of geometric cohesion in nonconvex granular materials: Interplay between interdigitation and rotational constraints enhancing frictional stability
- Tracking Coupled Granular Temperature and Entropy Dynamics in Granular Materials via Dielectric Spectroscopy
- A Cantilever-Based Method for Probing Adhesive Force and Detachment Energy in Cohesive Granular Materials
- Tribocharging of Granular Materials Dictated by Geometric and Thermoelectric Effects
BibTeX
@article{liu2026modeling,
title = {{Modeling of instability in cemented granular materials with an enhanced multiscale model}},
author = {Zeyong Liu and Chaofa Zhao and Antoine Wautier and François Nicot},
journal = {Computers and Geotechnics},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.108652},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05759971v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Modeling of instability in cemented granular materials with an enhanced multiscale model
AU - Zeyong Liu
AU - Chaofa Zhao
AU - Antoine Wautier
AU - François Nicot
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
JO - Computers and Geotechnics
DO - 10.1016/j.compgeo.2026.108652
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05759971v1
AB - Micromechanics of cemented granular materials provides a critical perspective for analyzing their complex macroscopic behavior, particularly regarding the progressive degradation of microscopic inter-particle bonds.Different from phenomenological approaches, multiscale modeling offers a powerful framework for linking grainscale mechanics to macroscopic material responses. Building upon the previously developed two-dimensional H -bond model, this study introduces statistical heterogeneity in inter-particle bond strengths and combines it with previously proposed configurational reactions to describe progressive bond failure and post-breakage mesostructural reconfiguration. By mathematically formulating bonded contact stiffness, progressive bond damage, and the ultimate transition toward purely frictional behavior, the model seamlessly upscales these micro-mechanisms to the representative elementary volume (REV) level via statistical homogenization. Analytical predictions confirm that the H -bond model accurately reproduces the essential macroscopic signatures of cemented granular materials under given loading paths, providing predictive physical insights that surpass traditional empirical methods. To extend its applicability to boundary value problems, the proposed framework is implemented as a VUMAT subroutine within Abaqus/Explicit. Leveraging this computational capability to simulate a particular landslide, the analysis demonstrates that progressive bond degradation critically governs the onset of macroscopic instability, successfully capturing complex failure mechanisms. Ultimately, this work establishes a computationally tractable and physically rigorous paradigm for embedding microstructural failure mechanisms into large-scale geotechnical analyses.
SN - 0266-352X
SN - 1873-7633
ER -