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Volume 118
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Transient evolution of non-local rheology and force chain reconstruction mechanisms in dense granular systems under annular shear
Xuejie Zhang a *, Xiaolong Lin a, Honghui Xu a, Xuehui Chen a b, Jiawei Ji a, Wei Liu a
a School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, 230601, China
b Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Key Friction Pairs for High-End Equipment, Hefei, 230601, China
10.1016/j.partic.2026.08.021
Volume 118, November 2026, Pages 56-74
Received 30 June 2026, Revised 7 August 2026, Accepted 18 August 2026, Available online 25 August 2026, Version of Record 2 September 2026.
E-mail: ejiezhang0218@163.com
Highlights

• Four-stage evolution governs transient non-local flow under annular shear.

• Flow penetration and creep attenuation respond oppositely to inertia.

• Stress homogenization coexists with persistent flow localization.

• Inertia shifts load transfer from distributed to concentrated pathways.

• Normal force anisotropy dominates and remains nearly coaxial with stress.


Abstract

Transient non-local rheology in dense granular systems is governed by the coupled evolution of flow localization, dilation, stress transmission, and contact network structure. A 3D discrete element model of annular shear is used to investigate the complete transition from shear start-up to statistically steady flow over a range of inertial numbers. Boundary-driven motion evolves through boundary nucleation, dilation-driven expansion, structural adjustment, and steady localization. During start-up, the localized flowing layer expands while broadly distributed weak motion contracts into a shorter creeping tail. At steady state, the flow penetration depth first increases and then decreases with inertial number, whereas the non-local decay length shows the opposite trend, confirming that appreciable flow penetration and creep attenuation characterize complementary aspects of non-local propagation. Axial stress undergoes near-surface concentration, dilation-induced release, and force chain mediated recovery, while the velocity field remains localized even after stress homogenization. Dilation transforms the initially dense contact network into a sparse and spatially differentiated load-bearing structure. Strong contacts carry the dominant and nearly constant share of the normal load and govern stress transmission and shear resistance, whereas weak contacts maintain geometric connectivity and buffer disturbances in the creeping bulk. Normal force anisotropy is dominant and remains nearly coaxial with the deviatoric stress, while geometric fabric anisotropy shifts from the creeping skeleton toward the localized flowing layer as inertia increases. These findings provide a micromechanical basis for non-local constitutive models incorporating compressibility, dynamic fabric, and the differentiated roles of localized flow and creep.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
Annular shear; Non-local rheology; Flow localization; Creep attenuation; Force chain reconstruction
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