This project is a cooperative effort between University of New Mexico (Dr. T.T. Ng) and Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute (Dr. Dobry) in which the objective is to use two- and three- dimensional random arrays of elastic rough quart ellipsoids for computer simulations of uniform sands. Good quantitative predictions for a wide range of strains, drained and undrained loading, and static as well as cyclic loading can be studied from these arrays. Micromechanical statistics of phenomena occurring at the particle/contact level will be obtained from the numerical simulations. Monotonic and cyclic laboratory axial/torsional tests on hollow cylindrical specimens of spherical and elongated glass beads as well as on sand will be done to verify numerical simulations.
