Deformation and micromechanics of granular materials in shear zones [Elektronische Ressource] : investigated with the discrete element method / by Ingo Kock

Deformation and micromechanics of granular materials inshear zones - investigated with the Discrete ElementMethodDissertationzur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Naturwissenschaften am Fachbereich Geowissenschaftender Universität Bremensubmitted for the doctoral degree in natural sciences at the Faculty of Geosciences of BremenUniversityvorgelegt vonbyIngo KockBremen,Januar/January 2007Tag des Kolloquiums:11.05.2007Gutachter:Prof. Dr. Katrin HuhnProf. Dr. Achim KopfPrüfer:Prof. Dr. Michael SchulzProf. Dr. Heinrich VillingerGeneral outlineGeneral outline and remarksThis thesis consists primarily of three manuscripts that have already been published or arecurrently under review by international scientific journals. These are Chapter I to Chapter IV.Furthermore, Chapter V is a published manuscript which was prepared in collaboration withProf. Dr. K. Huhn and Prof. Dr. A. Kopf, and to which I contributed.In the following sections and chapters, nomenclature is kept consistent. There is a distinctionbetween ‘grain’ and ‘particle’. Grain is used in connection with natural samples andconditions, whereas particle refers to numerical specimens.Chapter I outlines the general motivation for this thesis. The concepts of friction, failure ofsoil and rocks, and laboratory methods to evaluate shear strength are briefly introduced.