Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Strong force networks in granular mixtures

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Granular Matter Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using the results of 3D discrete element method simulations we study the force transmission through binary mixtures of sand and silt sized spheres under one-dimensional compression. Three types of contact are categorized depending on the size of the two spheres in contact. The contributions of each contact type to the deviator stress are dependent on the proportion of silt sized spheres. We demonstrate that the magnitude of the deviator stress is solely due to the normal and tangential forces at contacts transmitting normal forces greater than a characteristic normal force, which is generally slightly greater than the average normal force. The maximum packing efficiency was obtained with the mixture of 30 % silt sized spheres and this mixture corresponds to a transition point when there are enough silt sized particles to start to separate the sand sized particles from each other and establish contacts between silt sized spheres that contribute to the deviator stress.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Radjai, F., Wolf, D., Jean, M., Moreau, J.J.: Bimodal character of stress transmission in granular packings. Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 61–64 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Thornton, C., Antony, S.J.: Quasi-static deformation of particulate media. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A 356, 2763–2782 (1998)

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Drescher, A., De Josselin de Jong, G.: Photoelastic verification of a mechanical model for the flow of a granular material. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 20, 337–340 (1972)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Thornton, C., Zhang, L.: A numerical examination of shear banding and simple shear non-coaxial flow rules. Philos. Mag. B 86, 3425–3452 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wackenhut, M., McNamara, S., Herrmann, H.: Shearing behavior of polydisperse media. Eur. Phys. J. E. 17, 237–246 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Voivret, C., Radjai, F., Delenne, J.-Y., El Youssoufi, M.S.: Multiscale force networks in highly polydisperse granular media. Phys. Rev. Lett. 102(4), 1780001 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Itasca Inc.: Particle Flow Code in 3 Dimensions (PFC3D) version 4. Minnesota, USA (2008)

  8. Thornton, C., Zhang, L.: On the evolution of stress and microstructure during general 3D deviatoric straining of granular media. Géotechnique 60, 333–341 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Tu, X., Andrade, J.E.: Criteria for static equilibrium in particulate mechanics computations. Int. J. Num. Methods Eng. 75, 1581–1606 (2008)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  10. Lade, P.V., Yamamuro, J.A.: Effects of nonplastic fines on static liquefaction of sands. Can. Geotech. J. 34, 918–928 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Minh, N.H., Cheng, Y.P.: A DEM investigation of the effect of particle-size distribution on one-dimensional compression. Géotechnique 63, 44–53 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of an EPSRC grant (EP/F036973/1). The first author acknowledges the financial support from the Corporate Fund “Fund of Social Development”, Kazakhstan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Republic of Kazakhstan

    N. H. Minh

  2. Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    N. H. Minh & Y. P. Cheng

  3. School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    C. Thornton

Authors
  1. N. H. Minh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. P. Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Thornton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. H. Minh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Minh, N.H., Cheng, Y.P. & Thornton, C. Strong force networks in granular mixtures. Granular Matter 16, 69–78 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-013-0455-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-013-0455-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation