DEM analysis of passive arching in a shallow trapdoor under eccentric loading

This study analyzed the passive arching effect under eccentric loading by developing a series of trapdoor discrete numerical models. The numerical models were validated by comparison with laboratory test results. The deformation pattern, soil arching ratio, force chain distribution, and coordination number under various surcharge magnitudes and deviation distances were analyzed. The numerical results showed that the deformation diagram of soil particles can be divided into three zones: principal displacement zone, transition zone, and static zone. With an increase in the surcharge magnitude, the range of the principal displacement zone decreased, but the range of the transition region increased. The curve of the soil arching ratio on the trapdoor can be divided into three phases, which can be well characterized by the tangent modulus. The passive arching effect is degraded by a surcharge. The ultimate soil arching ratio could be approximated as a W-shaped distribution along the +x-direction. With an increase in the trapdoor displacement, the force chain on the trapdoor gradually expanded outward to form an inverted funnel shape. The most powerful force on the trapdoor was mainly distributed on its edge. The average coordination number decreased gradually as the trapdoor moved upward.