Statistics of contact force network in dense granular matter--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Wang, D., & Zhou, Y. (2010). Statistics of contact force network in dense granular matter. Particuology, 8(2), 133-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2009.09.007

Statistics of contact force network in dense granular matter

Dengming Wang, Youhe Zhou^*

Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

10.1016/j.partic.2009.09.007

Volume 8, Issue 2, April 2010, Pages 133-140

Received 12 December 2008, Accepted 22 September 2009, Available online 24 December 2009.

E-mail: zhouyh@lzu.edu.cn

Highlights

Abstract

We investigate the distribution of contact forces in a static granular system and in annular shear granular flow, using the discrete element method, and considering the influences of both packing fraction and friction coefficient. We find the existence of a critical packing fraction. If the packing fraction is lower than this critical value, all contact forces in granular system vanish. For shear granular flow, the critical packing fraction is significantly smaller than that for static granular system. The distribution of the contact forces also exhibits different forms, especially at lower packing fraction. We also investigate the spatial configuration of contact network using the angular distribution of contact forces. In static granular systems, the contact force network is approximately isotropic, while in shear granular flow, it exhibits a distinct anisotropy along the shear direction.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Shear granular flow; Contact network; Force distribution; Critical packing fraction

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