Multiscale properties of dense granular materials
Abstract
Purpose
Granular materials possess multiscale structures, i.e. micro-scales involving atoms and molecules in a solid particle, meso-scales involving individual particles and their correlated structure, and macroscopic assembly. Strong and abundant dissipations are exhibited due to mesoscopic unsteady motion of individual grains, and evolution of underlying structures (e.g. force chains, vortex, etc.), which defines the key differences between granular materials and ordinary objects. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the major studies have been conducted in recent two decades.
Design/methodology/approach
The main properties at individual scale are introduced, including the coordination number, pair-correlation function, force and mean stress distribution functions, and the dynamic correlation function. The relationship between meso- and macro-scales is analyzed, such as between contact force and stress, the elastic modulus, and bulk friction in granular flows. At macroscales, conventional engineering models (i.e. elasto-plastic and hypo-plastic ones) are introduced. In particular, the so-called granular hydrodynamics theory, derived from thermodynamics principles, is explained.
Findings
On the basis of recent study the authors conducted, the multiscales (both spatial and temporal) in granular materials are first explained, and a multiscale framework is presented for the mechanics of granular materials.
Originality/value
It would provide a paramount view on the multiscale studies of granular materials.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2010CB731504), the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11034010, 11272048, 51239006), European Commission Marie Curie Actions (Grant No. IRSES-294976) and the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program.
Citation
Liu, C., Sun, Q. and Zhang, G. (2015), "Multiscale properties of dense granular materials", Engineering Computations, Vol. 32 No. 4, pp. 956-972. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-04-2014-0084
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited