Discrete element simulation on vortex structure in granular materials subject to biaxial compression

Abstract

There is the fluctuation of the residual displacement field, which is the affine displacement subtracted from the displacement of grains. In this study, the role of inclusions in granular materials in the fluctuation is investigated under biaxial compression by the discrete element method. Local particle groups with lower/higher stiffness are used to represent the inclusions. The distributions of the fluctuation and strain are presented under loading stage. Numerical results show that the fluctuation of the displacement exhibits different structure according to different inclusion or assembly with different packing. In addition, by comparing the distribution of displacement and strains, it is indicated that whether the fluctuation will present vortex structure depends on not only the non-uniform of strain distribution but also the heterogeneity of granular assembly itself.

Keywords:

• Granular materials
• Inclusions
• Vortex structures
• Discrete element method