Contact forces in anisotropic frictional granular materials

The probability density functions (PDFs) of contact forces in anisotropic, cohesionless and frictional granular materials are studied numerically and theoretically. Using discrete element simulations of biaxial deformation of a large two-dimensional assembly consisting of 200,000 disks, it is observed that the PDFs for the normal and tangential components of the contact forces depend significantly on contact orientation. The PDFs exhibit exponential decay and the PDF for the tangential component of the contact forces is not always symmetrical with respect to zero tangential force. The shape of the PDF for the normal component of the contact forces changes with shear strain. A qualitative explanation for this change is given that is related to the biaxial deformation mechanism in which the disrupted contacts are predominantly oriented in the direction of the minor principle stress.A maximum entropy method is employed to study these PDFs theoretically, using a prescribed stress tensor as constraint. It is found that the theoretical results correspond qualitatively to many of the results obtained from the discrete element simulations. Discrepancies between theory and simulations are attributed to the fact that the kinematics have not been taken into account in the theory.     

Micromechanical definition of an entropy for quasi-static deformation of granular materials

A micromechanical theory is formulated for quasi-static deformation of granular materials, which is based on information theory. A reasoning is presented that leads to the definition of an information entropy that is appropriate for quasi-static deformation of granular materials. This definition is based on the hypothesis that relative displacements at contacts with similar orientations are independent realisations of a random variable. This hypothesis is made plausible based on the results of Discrete Element simulations. The developed theory is then used to predict the elastic behaviour of granular materials in terms of micromechanical quantities. The case considered is that of two-dimensional assemblies consisting of non-rotating particles with an elastic contact constitutive relation. Applications of this case are the initial elastic (small-strain) deformation of granular materials. Theoretical results for the elastic moduli, relative displacements, energy distribution and probability density functions are compared with results obtained from the Discrete Element simulations for isotropic assemblies with various average numbers of contacts per particle and various ratios of tangential to normal contact stiffness. This comparison shows that the developed information theory is valid for loose systems, while a theory based on the uniform-strain assumption is appropriate for dense systems.     

考虑粗糙结合面弹塑性接触的黏滑摩擦建模

提出一种同时考虑粗糙面上微凸体弹性变形和塑性接触的切向黏滑摩擦建模方法。采用Hertz弹性理论和Mindlin解描述弹性接触微凸体的切向载荷和相对变形的关系;采用AF(Abbott-Firstone)塑性理论和Fujimoto模型描述塑性接触微凸体切向载荷和相对变形的关系。再利用GW(Greenwood-Williamson)模型统计分析方法建立粗糙表面切向载荷和相对变形之间的关系。将模型与仅考虑微凸体弹性接触情况的模型进行对比,并研究了不同塑性指数对切向载荷和相对变形关系的影响。结果表明：与完全弹性接触模型相比,本文模型引入了塑性接触理论,能够更好地描述粗糙表面切向载荷和相对变形关系,并且考虑不同接触条件下弹性变形微凸体和塑性变形微凸体对切向接触载荷的贡献,在微滑移阶段,主要由弹性接触变形影响,而在进入宏观滑移阶段之后,切向行为主要由塑性变形影响。界面切向载荷由黏着和滑移接触作用共同决定,随着切向变形的增加,滑移接触力逐渐增加,而黏着接触力先增加后减少,反映了界面由微滑移逐渐向宏滑移演化的过程。随着塑性指数的增加,粗糙面上发生塑性接触的微凸体数目逐渐增加,切向黏滑行为主要受到塑性接触特征的控制。     

颗粒流动力学及其离散模型评述

颗粒流是由众多颗粒组成的具有内在相互作用的非经典介质流动. 自然界常见颗粒流都是密集流, 颗粒间接触形成力链, 诸多力链相互交接构成支撑整个颗粒流重量和外载荷的网络, 其局部构型及强度在外载荷下演化, 是颗粒流摩擦特性和接触应力的来源.本文介绍球形颗粒间无粘连作用时的Hertz法向接触理论和Mindlin-Deresiewicz切向接触理论. Campbell依据是否生成较为稳定的力链把颗粒流分为弹性流和惯性流两大类, 其中弹性-准静态流和惯性-碰撞流分别对应准静态流和快速流, 作为两种极端流动情况通常处理成连续体, 分别采用摩擦塑性模型和动理论予以描述, 但是表征接触力链的颗粒弹性参数并不出现这两个模型和理论框架中, 如何进一步考虑颗粒弹性参数将非常困难. 目前离散动力学方法逐渐成为复现其复杂颗粒流动现象、提取实验不可能获得的内部流动信息进而综合起来探索颗粒流问题的一种有效工具, 其真实性强于连续介质理论的描述. 软球模型对颗粒间接触力简化处理, 忽略了切向接触力对法向接触力及其加载历史的依赖, 带来了法向和切向刚度系数如何标度等更艰难的物理问题, 但由于计算强度小而广泛应用于工程问题中. 硬球模型不考虑颗粒接触变形, 因而不能描述颗粒流内在接触应变等物理机理, 仅适用于快速颗粒流, 这不仅仅是由于两体碰撞的限制. 因此基于颗粒接触力学的离散颗粒动力学模型是崭新的模型,适用于准静态流到快速流整个颗粒流态的模拟, 可以细致考虑接触形变及接触力的细节,建立更为合理的颗粒流本构关系, 进而有力的促进颗粒流这一非经典介质流动的研究.      

Frictional contact of two rotating elastic disks

We study the problem of constrained uniform rotation of two precompressed elastic disks made of different materials with friction forces in the contact region taken into account. The exact solution of the problem is obtained by the Wiener-Hopf method.An important stage in the study of rolling of elastic bodies is the Hertz theory [1] of contact interaction of elastic bodies with smoothly varying curvature in the contact region under normal compression. Friction in the contact region is assumed to be negligible. If there are tangential forces and the friction in the contact region is taken into account, then the picture of contact interaction of elastic bodies changes significantly. Although the normal contact stress distribution strictly follows the Hertz theory for bodies with identical elastic properties and apparently slightly differs from the Hertz diagram for bodies made of different materials, the presence of tangential stresses results in the splitting of the contact region into the adhesion region and the slip region. This phenomenon was first established by Reynolds [2], who experimentally discovered slip regions near points of material entry in and exit from the contact region under constrained rolling of an aluminum cylinder on a rubber base. The theoretical justification of the partial slip phenomenon in the contact region, discovered by Reynolds [2], can be found in Carter [3] and Fromm [4]. Moreover, Fromm presents a complete solution of the problem of constrained uniform rotation of two identical disks. Apparently, Fromm was the first to consider the so-called “clamped” strain and postulated that slip is absent at the point at which the disk materials enter the contact region.Ishlinskii [5, 6] gave an engineering solution of the problem on slip in the contact region under rolling friction. Considering the problem on a rigid disk rolling on an elastic half-plane, we model this problem by an infinite set of elastic vertical rods using Winkler-Zimmermann type hypotheses. Numerous papers of other authors are surveyed in Johnson’s monograph [7].The exact solution of the problem on the constrained uniform rotation of precompressed rigid and elastic disks under the assumptions of Fromm’s theory is contained in the papers [8, 9]. In the present paper, we generalize the solution obtained in [8, 9] to the case of two elastic disks made of different materials.     

三方程线性弹性-阻尼DEM模型及碰撞参数确定

建立了一种考虑法向接触力、切向接触力(含静滑动摩擦力及动滑动摩擦力)和力矩(含由切向力产生的力矩及静滚动摩擦力矩和动滚动摩擦力矩)的三方程线性弹性-阻尼离散单元模型,并将该模型应用到颗粒物料的三维数值模拟中,讨论了模型中几个重要碰撞参数--刚性系数、阻尼系数及摩擦系数的选择及其对计算结果的影响,同时也探讨了时间步长等计算参数对模拟结果的影响.为了验证算法和参数选择的正确性,本文对几个有代表性的颗粒系统进行了数值试验研究,并对计算结果进行了细致的分析,验证了新模型和参数选择的正确性.     

Statistics of particle interactions in dense granular material under uniaxial compression

Stress evolution in a dense granular material is closely related to interactions of contacting particles. We investigate statistics related to particle interactions and the relationship between the averaged local relative motion and the macroscopic motion. The validity of the Voigt and Reuss assumptions is examined, and extensions to these assumptions are proposed. Effects of history in the dense granular material are investigated. Statistical samples used in this paper are obtained using three-dimensional numerical simulations of dense granular media under uniaxial cyclical compression. The results show that stresses arise mostly from normal forces between particles, and direct contributions from frictional tangential forces between particles are small. Tangential friction, however, significantly increases the particle contact time, and thus reduces the rate of contact breakage. The contact breakage rate is demonstrated to be a stress relaxation rate. Therefore, stress increases significantly with friction between particles as a result of prolonged relaxation time.     

A nonlocal contact formulation for confined granular systems

We present a nonlocal formulation of contact mechanics that accounts for the interplay of deformations due to multiple contact forces acting on a single particle. The analytical formulation considers the effects of nonlocal mesoscopic deformations characteristic of confined granular systems and, therefore, removes the classical restriction of independent contacts. This is in sharp contrast to traditional contact mechanics theories, which are strictly local and assume that contacts are independent regardless the confinement of the particles. For definiteness, we restrict attention to elastic spheres in the absence of gravitational forces, adhesion or friction. Hence, a notable feature of the nonlocal formulation is that, when nonlocal effects are neglected, it reduces to Hertz theory. Furthermore, we show that, under the preceding assumptions and up to moderate macroscopic deformations, the predictions of the nonlocal contact formulation are in remarkable agreement with detailed finite-element simulations and experimental observations, and in large disagreement with Hertz theory predictions—supporting that the assumption of independent contacts only holds for small deformations. The discrepancy between the extended theory presented in this work and Hertz theory is borne out by studying periodic homogeneous systems and disordered heterogeneous systems.     

弹塑性微凸体侧向接触相互作用能耗

传统的结合面研究多基于光滑刚性平面与等效粗糙表面接触假设,忽略了结合面上微凸体侧向接触及相邻微凸体之间的相互作用,这导致理论模型与实际结合面存在较大出入.针对承受法向静、动态力的机械结合面,从微观上研究了微凸体侧向接触及相互作用的接触能耗.将法向静、动态力分解为法向分力和切向分力,获取弹性/弹塑性/塑性阶段考虑微凸体侧接触及相互作用的加、卸载法向分力-变形和切向分力-位移的关系.通过力的合成定理,从而获取加、卸载法向合力与总变形之间的关系,由于法向分力产生的塑性变形及切向分力产生的摩擦,导致加载、卸载法向合力-总变形曲线存在迟滞回线.通过对一个加、卸载周期内的法向合力-总变形曲线积分,获得一个周期的微凸体接触能耗,包括应变能耗及摩擦能耗.仿真分析表明:微凸体在3个阶段的能耗均随变形的增大而非线性增大.微凸体侧向接触角度越大,能耗越大,且在弹性阶段最为明显.在弹性阶段,仅存在侧向的摩擦能耗,故结合面在低载荷作用下必须采用双粗糙表面假设.在塑性阶段,由于微凸体接触能耗为应变能耗,且接触角对其能耗影响甚微,故结合面在大载荷作用下可采用单平面假设对其进行研究.相对于KE和Etsion模型,本文提出的模型与Bartier的实验结果更吻合.     

Micromechanical study of elastic moduli of loose granular materials

In micromechanics of the elastic behaviour of granular materials, the macro-scale continuum elastic moduli are expressed in terms of micro-scale parameters, such as coordination number (the average number of contacts per particle) and interparticle contact stiffnesses in normal and tangential directions. It is well-known that mean-field theory gives inaccurate micromechanical predictions of the elastic moduli, especially for loose systems with low coordination number. Improved predictions of the moduli are obtained here for loose two-dimensional, isotropic assemblies. This is achieved by determining approximate displacement and rotation fields from the force and moment equilibrium conditions for small sub-assemblies of various sizes. It is assumed that the outer particles of these sub-assemblies move according to the mean field. From the particle displacement and rotation fields thus obtained, approximate elastic moduli are determined. The resulting predictions are compared with the true moduli, as determined from the discrete element method simulations for low coordination numbers and for various values of the tangential stiffness (at fixed value of the normal stiffness). Using this approach, accurate predictions of the moduli are obtained, especially when larger sub-assemblies are considered. As a step towards an analytical formulation of the present approach, it is investigated whether it is possible to replace the local contact stiffness matrices by a suitable average stiffness matrix. It is found that this generally leads to a deterioration of the accuracy of the predictions. Many micromechanical studies predict that the macroscopic bulk modulus is hardly influenced by the value of the tangential stiffness. It is shown here from the discrete element method simulations of hydrostatic compression that for loose systems, the bulk modulus strongly depends on the stiffness ratio for small stiffness ratios.     

Theory of dry friction of rubbery materials

Friction of solids involves short-range forces between adjacent surface layers, which are largely determined by the shape and structure of those layers, which are themselves determined to a considerable extent by the relative velocity. A theory of friction thus involves the microstructure and the detailed physical phenomena near the surfaces.However, most existing theories are based on phenomenological (essentially macroscopic) concepts (see [1] for a survey), though the explicit use of microscopic concepts is presented in [2], where it is shown that one elastic body sliding over another gives rise to elastic waves that carry energy away from the contact surface. This loss may be treated formally as due to a tangential force resisting the motion. The force defined in this way has a falling velocity characteristic.There is much evidence that the friction differs greatly from that for ordinary elastic bodies if one body (or both) should be highly elastic (rubber, polymer, etc) [3]. A model describing these differences would be of considerable interest.Here we consider the somewhat idealized ease of a rubbery body sliding over a crystalline one; the frictional force is deduced as a function of the velocity and other parameters. The surfaces are taken as smooth and clean, while the bodies are homogeneous. Various simplifying assumptions are made, but these are unimportant from the qualitative standpoint.We are indebted to G. I. Barenblatt for a discussion.     

含摩擦与碰撞平面多刚体系统动力学线性互补算法

基于接触力学理论和线性互补问题的算法, 给出了一种含接触、碰撞以及库伦干摩擦, 同时具有理想定常约束(铰链约束) 和非定常约束(驱动约束) 的平面多刚体系统动力学的建模与数值计算方法. 将系统中的每个物体视为刚体, 但考虑物体接触点的局部变形, 将物体间的法向接触力表示成嵌入量与嵌入速度的非线性函数,其切向摩擦力采用库伦干摩擦模型. 利用摩擦余量和接触点的切向加速度等概念, 给出了摩擦定律的互补关系式; 并利用事件驱动法, 将接触点的黏滞-滑移状态切换的判断及黏滞状态下摩擦力的计算问题转化成线性互补问题的求解. 利用第一类拉格朗日方程和鲍姆加藤约束稳定化方法建立了系统的动力学方程, 由此可降低约束的漂移, 并可求解该系统的运动、法向接触力和切向摩擦力, 还可以求解理想铰链约束力和驱动约束力. 最后以一个类似夯机的平面多刚体系统为例, 分析了其动力学特性, 并说明了相关算法的有效性.      

Entropy productions in granular materials

Granular materials display more abundant dissipation phenomena than ordinary materials. In this paper, a brief energy flow path with irreversible processes is illustrated, where the concept of granular temperature T_g, initially proposed for dilute systems, is extended to dense systems in order to quantify disordered force chain configurations. Additionally, we develop the concept of conjugate granular entropy s_g and its production equation. Our analyses find out that the granular entropy significantly undermined the elastic contact between particles, seriously affecting the transport coefficients in granular materials and creating new transport processes.     

盘-销摩擦系统摩擦接触力测试与特性分析

测量分析动态摩擦接触力是研究摩擦振动与噪声发生机理的关键.本文中建立了盘-销系统摩擦尖叫试验台架,成功再现了摩擦尖叫.采用三向力传感器对有无摩擦尖叫条件下的动态摩擦接触力进行了测量,并利用小波信号分解、概率密度函数、功率谱密度函数、时频分析等方法进行了分析和讨论.研究发现:在发生摩擦尖叫时,动态摩擦力和法向力发生高频波动,是系统噪声的激励源;无摩擦尖叫时的摩擦力和法向力的动态分量为典型的白噪声随机过程,呈非高斯分布;有摩擦尖叫时的摩擦力和法向力为窄带高频类谐波信号,摩擦力呈非高斯分布,而法向力近似为高斯分布;模态耦合是导致盘-销系统发生动态接触力高频波动以及摩擦尖叫的原因.     

Contact stresses: a short survey of models and methods of computations

Contact stresses are identified as normal and tangential forces between contacting solids. The normal stresses are modeled using unilateral and complementary conditions, elastic response and normal compliance. Friction laws describe the tangential traction. Friction of materials depends on pressure, sliding velocity, surface temperature, time of contact, surface roughness and presence of wear debris. Phenomenological, micro-mechanical and atomic-scale models as well as non-classical models of anisotropic and heterogeneous friction are important steps in the development of friction modeling. Sophisticated friction models are desirable in vibrating systems, materials processing, rolling contacts, rubber and polymers, geomechanics, bioengineering and living systems. Main numerical methods in contact mechanics are: finite element method, boundary element method and discrete element method. To include specific contact constraints, the following computing techniques are applied: Lagrange multipliers, penalty function, perturbated and augmented Lagrangian methods, mathematical programming methods. The advances of adhesion and impact modeling are outlined in this paper.     

Micromechanical analysis of friction anisotropy in rough elastic contacts

Computational contact homogenization approach is applied to study friction anisotropy resulting from asperity interaction in elastic contacts. Contact of rough surfaces with anisotropic roughness is considered with asperity contact at the micro scale being governed by the isotropic Coulomb friction model. Application of a micro-to-macro scale transition scheme yields a macroscopic friction model with orientation- and pressure-dependent macroscopic friction coefficient. The macroscopic slip rule is found to exhibit a weak non-associativity in the tangential plane, although the slip rule at the microscale is associated in the tangential plane. Counterintuitive effects are observed for compressible materials, in particular, for auxetic materials.     

Contact strength of a two-layer covering under friction forces in the contact region

Friction and antifriction composite materials of multilayer structure [1] have recently become very popular in the engineering industry. Antifriction materials are widely used in sliding bearings, and friction materials are widely used in brakes. In the first case, the friction forces between the contacting surfaces are negligible, but in the second case, they are rather large. We use two examples of two plane problems from the theory of elasticity concerning the interaction between a die and a base formed by two elastic layers with different mechanical properties, which are rigidly connected with each other and with an undeformable support, to study how the geometric and mechanical parameters of the problem affect the stress-strain state of such a base, both on its surface and at its internal points, and to find the optimal parameters ensuring the required operation resources of the friction units thus modeled. We assume that the die foot is parabola-shaped or plane, the normal and tangential stresses in the contact region are related to each other by the Coulomb law, and the die is subjected to normal and tangential forces. In this case, the die-two-layer base is in the limit equilibtrium, and the die does not rotate in the process of deformation of the layer. In this setting, the problems were studied in [2] by solving the integral equations (IE) by the asymptotic method of large λ (see [3–7], etc.), which permits finding the effective solution only for relatively large thicknesses of layers compared with the dimensions of the contact region. But in real friction units mentioned above, the layers can have rather small relative thicknesses, and the large λ method cannot be used. We note that the other asymptotic methods (e.g., see [3]) efficient in the case of relatively small thicknesses of layers cannot yet be adapted to the case of friction forces in the contact region. In the present paper, we propose to use the collocation method following the scheme given in [8] to solve the corresponding integral equation of the first kind with logarithmic kernel. This method allows one to obtain sufficiently exact solutions practically for all values of the parameters of the problem with relatively small expenditure of the computer time for modern computers. The contact problem for a two-layer base was used in [9] for a close statement of the problem without friction forces in the contact region.