Abstract
A constitutive contact law has been developed in order to simulate the mechanical behavior of sandstone
using a 3-dimensional discrete element model. The contact law has included the non-linear elastic deformation and the
plastic deformation. Simulations of triaxial compression tests using such a model indicate that the model captures a few
important aspects of the mechanical behavior of natural sandstones: The bulk modulus increases with increasing hydrostatic stress. With higher confining stress in the triaxial tests, both the peak axial stress and the tangent modulus at 50% of the peak differential stress get higher, while the Poisson ratio at 50% of the peak differential stress becomes smaller. The model has been applied to simulate hole drilling in sandstone. It demonstrates how the model can be used to analyze excavationinduced stress alteration and mechanical damage in the rock.
using a 3-dimensional discrete element model. The contact law has included the non-linear elastic deformation and the
plastic deformation. Simulations of triaxial compression tests using such a model indicate that the model captures a few
important aspects of the mechanical behavior of natural sandstones: The bulk modulus increases with increasing hydrostatic stress. With higher confining stress in the triaxial tests, both the peak axial stress and the tangent modulus at 50% of the peak differential stress get higher, while the Poisson ratio at 50% of the peak differential stress becomes smaller. The model has been applied to simulate hole drilling in sandstone. It demonstrates how the model can be used to analyze excavationinduced stress alteration and mechanical damage in the rock.