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The microstructure of particulate mixtures in one-dimensional compression: numerical studies

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Abstract

The current paper documents a series of numerical experiments conducted to study the microstructure evolution experienced by mixtures created with particles of contrasting size and stiffness, subjected to one-dimensional compression. Emphasis is placed on quantifying the effects of mixture fraction and relative size ratio on macroscale and microscale responses. The results indicate that force percolation (specifically through the network of high-stiffness grains) controls system mechanical response at the macroscale. The mixing fraction and size ratio of the particles significantly affects (1) force percolation and (2) the strain-dependent evolution of the void space. The latter is of particular relevance to the stress-dependent hydraulic conductivity evolution of the mixture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7908, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7908, USA

    T. Matthew Evans

  2. Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Julio R. Valdes

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  1. T. Matthew Evans
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  2. Julio R. Valdes
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Correspondence to T. Matthew Evans.

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Evans, T.M., Valdes, J.R. The microstructure of particulate mixtures in one-dimensional compression: numerical studies. Granular Matter 13, 657–669 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-011-0278-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-011-0278-z

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