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Micromechanics of the elastic behaviour of granular materials

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Continuous and Discontinuous Modelling of Cohesive-Frictional Materials

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 568))

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Abstract

Micromechanics of granular materials deals with the relation between microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. This study focuses on elastic behaviour. An overview of micromechanics of granular materials is given. Two regimes are identified, uniform strain and uniform stress. It follows from extremum principles that these regimes correspond to upper and lower bounds for the moduli. A statistical theory is outlined that is based on maximum disorder. The results of Discrete Element simulations, based on isotropic assemblies of 50,000 particles, are used to gain insight in the relevant phenomena and to verify theoretical predictions. A linear relation between number of contacts and particle radius is observed. The statistical theory is valid for loose systems, while the uniform strain theory is valid for dense systems. In general, the relative displacements do not match the uniform strain assumption. Gaussian probability density functions are observed for the relative displacements. No equipartition of energy is found.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    N. P. Kruyt

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    L. Rothenburg

Authors
  1. N. P. Kruyt
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  2. L. Rothenburg
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 35, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Pieter A. Vermeer

  2. Institute of Computer Applications 1, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 27, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Hans J. Herrmann  & Stefan Luding  & 

  3. Institute of Applied Mechanics, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 7, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Wolfgang Ehlers  & Stefan Diebels  & 

  4. Institute of Structural Mechanics, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 27, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Ekkehard Ramm

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kruyt, N.P., Rothenburg, L. (2001). Micromechanics of the elastic behaviour of granular materials. In: Vermeer, P.A., Herrmann, H.J., Luding, S., Ehlers, W., Diebels, S., Ramm, E. (eds) Continuous and Discontinuous Modelling of Cohesive-Frictional Materials. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 568. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44424-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44424-6_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-41525-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-44424-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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