Abstract The discrete element method is used to simulate shear wave propagation resulting from bender element tests in confined granular materials. The effects of particle size, wave travel distance, confining pressure, void ratio, input frequency, and adopted damping methods on the output frequency and calculated shear wave velocity are systematically analyzed. The research findings indicate that the output frequency first increases with the input frequency until it reaches a threshold value. This output frequency threshold decreases with an increase in wave travel distance before reaching a constant value, while it decreases linearly with an increase in particle size. The research also shows that when the ratio of the wave travel distance to the mean particle size exceeds 20, the ratio of the wavelength to the equivalent mean particle size is consistently close to 10. It is suggested that the viscous and the local damping ratios should be less than 5% and 20%, respectively, for wave propagation simulations. Moreover, the research endeavor found that the shear wave velocity correlates with the coordination number of the specimen from a particulate perspective. These findings advance the fundamental understanding of wave propagation and provide valuable guidance for simulating wave propagation using the discrete element method.

中文翻译：

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使用弯曲单元在不同粒度的受限颗粒材料中对剪切波传播进行离散元建模

摘要 离散元法用于模拟受限颗粒材料弯曲单元试验产生的横波传播。系统地分析了粒径、波传播距离、围压、空隙率、输入频率和采用的阻尼方法对输出频率和计算横波速度的影响。研究结果表明，输出频率首先随着输入频率的增加而增加，直到达到阈值。该输出频率阈值在达到恒定值之前随着波行进距离的增加而降低，而随着粒径的增加而线性降低。研究还表明，当波传播距离与平均粒径的比值超过20时，波长与等效平均粒径的比值始终接近 10。建议对于波传播模拟，粘性和局部阻尼比应分别小于 5% 和 20%。此外，研究工作发现，从微粒的角度来看，剪切波速度与试样的配位数相关。这些发现促进了对波传播的基本理解，并为使用离散元方法模拟波传播提供了宝贵的指导。研究工作发现，从微粒的角度来看，剪切波速度与试样的配位数相关。这些发现促进了对波传播的基本理解，并为使用离散元方法模拟波传播提供了宝贵的指导。研究工作发现，从微粒的角度来看，剪切波速度与试样的配位数相关。这些发现促进了对波传播的基本理解，并为使用离散元方法模拟波传播提供了宝贵的指导。