Abstract From the microscopic point of view,rocks can be regarded as granular particles with different sizes. These granular particles are basically bonded by inter-granular cementation with various bonding thicknesses. The microstructure features roughly determine the macroscopic mechanical responses of rocks. Therefore,numerical simulations based on discrete element method can be helpful for understanding the microscopic mechanism of rock macro-mechanics. Consequently,the contact mechanical characteristics of inter-particles are studied by compression,shear and contortion model tests in laboratory. In addition,a comparative study of this bonding model and grain-cement model of rock performed by D. O. Potyondy and P. A. Cundall is carried out. These model tests are conducted on cement/epoxy resin bonding aluminum rods. The test results show that the bonds,either at different bond thicknesses or with different bond materials,show similar mechanical behaviors,suggesting a good foundation for the applicability of discrete element simulation. The results show that this bonding model to describe for rock behaviors is more accurate than grain-cement model proposed by D. O. Potyondy and P. A. Cundall.
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Received: 11 January 2013
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