Simulating interface characteristics by using a particulate interface model of a discrete element method

This paper proposes a particulate interface model to simulate the interface by using a particulate discrete element method. Six modifications are adopted in the numerical calculations to improve the stability and accuracy. The interface model provides two failure criteria: one is the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion and the other is the Barton–Bandis shear strength criterion. To verify the proposed model, the failure envelope, the shear-displacement curve, the closure curve, and the dilation curve were analyzed and simulated. The simulations demonstrated good agreement with the theoretical curves. The influence of the particle size was also investigated; the results proved that the quantity or size of the particle did not affect the performance of the proposed model. Finally, a rock bolt pull-out problem was simulated. The results proved that the proposed interface model can reasonably predict the shear stress acting on the interface between the rock bolt and rock.