Acoustic emission response characteristics and numerical simulation of soil failure under uniaxial compression

The burgeoning expansion of urban rail transit has brought the safety of tunnel construction to the forefront. Accidents arising from mechanical failures in the surrounding rock and soil serve as substantial impediments to its progression. This research delves into the acoustic emission (AE) response characteristics and the detrimental effects of uniaxial loads on silty clay. To achieve this, an experimental system was devised to ascertain both mechanical properties and AE responses. A damage model, predicated on cumulative AE counts, was developed, and the principles governing damage evolution were distilled. Following this, the Particle Flow Code (PFC) was employed for numerical simulation. By manipulating mesoscopic parameters, we exerted control over the macroscopic mechanical attributes. This enabled a deep dive into the AE response and the energy shifts during the failure mechanism, offering a mesoscopic lens to understand deformation and failure. Our findings suggest: (1) The AE response during failure can be stratified into five distinct phases, with pronounced AE activity in the loading failure domain, aligning with established engineering practices. (2) The damage model, rooted in cumulative AE counts, adeptly captures the sequential damage evolution, closely mirroring the stress-strain dynamics. (3) PFC effectively simulates internal fractures and the AE dynamics during failure, pinpointing areas of susceptibility for targeted interventions. This research stands as a pivotal reference for engineering stability initiatives, augmenting our ability to foresee and preemptively address potential damages.