On the rheology of dilative granular media: Bridging solid- and fluid-like behavior

A new rate-dependent plasticity model for dilative granular media is presented, aiming to bridge the seemingly disparate solid- and fluid-like behavioral regimes. Up to date, solid-like behavior is typically tackled with rate-independent plasticity models emanating from Mohr–Coulomb and Critical State plasticity theory. On the other hand, the fluid-like behavior of granular media is typically treated using constitutive theories amenable to viscous flow, e.g., Bingham fluid. In our proposed model, the material strength is composed of a dilation part and a rate-dependent residual strength. The dilatancy strength plays a key role during solid-like behavior but vanishes in the fluid-like regime. The residual strength, which in a classical plasticity model is considered constant and rate-independent, is postulated to evolve with strain rate. The main appeal of the model is its simplicity and its ability to reconcile the classic plasticity and rheology camps. The applicability and capability of the model are demonstrated by numerical simulation of granular flow problems, as well as a classical shear banding problem, where the performance of the continuum model is compared to discrete particle simulations and physical experiment. These results shed much-needed light onto the mechanics and physics of granular media at various shear rates.     

A Solution for the Stress Distribution in a Granular Medium

We propose an example of an incremental elastic problem for a granular material. The mechanical behavior of this material is sensitive to the confining pressure that typically is applied before any loading. Experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical models show that the effective elastic moduli of a granular medium are function of the confining pressure in non-linear way. Therefore, if we consider a reference state where the pressure is not constant the material behaves differently in each point and, for example, the stress associated to a subsequently loading should be obtained as solution of a non-homogeneous material. We focus our attention on this kind of problem for a granular material that fills an hollow cylinder first isotropically compressed and then sheared under a rotatory motion. Next a small perturbation is applied on the boundaries of the specimen and we evaluate the corresponding stress distribution in the plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder.     

The role of a realistic volume constraint in modelling a two dimensional granular assembly

This paper presents a deceptively simple mathematical model for the deformation of granular materials composed of rigid particles. The model captures many of the diverse features of the behaviour of such a material and emphasises the importance of volume constraints in situations where the deformation is mainly by particle rearrangement. It is constructed using a simple dissipation function and a rather more complicated dilatancy rule containing an updateable reference strain. This allows the solid-like and fluid-like properties of granular materials to be reconciled in a single model.The model has been used to simulate experiments that use an analogue of an ideal granular material [Joer, H.A., Lanier, J., Fahey, M., 1998. Deformation of granular materials due to rotation of principal axes. Geotechnique 48 (5), 605-619] consisting of a two dimensional assembly of thin PVC rods. These experiments clearly illustrate: partially reversible dilatancy in direct shear tests; cyclic shearing leading to liquefaction in constant volume shear tests; and non-coaxiality of the principal axes of stress and strain increment in circular loading tests. These radically different modes of deformation provide a challenging data set that allows the model's potential to be clearly demonstrated.The authors believe that the comparison of these experimental results and our simulations give strong support to the assertion that volume changes associated with shear deformation are responsible for the rotational kinematic hardening seen in granular materials, and hence, the non-coaxiality of the stress and strain-rate tensors.     

A novel hybrid solid-like fluid-like (SLFL) method for the simulation of dry granular flows

This paper proposes a novel hybrid method to simulate the dry granular flow of materials over a wide range of inertial numbers that simultaneously covers the quasi-static and dense granular flow regimes. To overcome the lack of incremental objectivity whenever large deformations occur in solid-like regimes and to remove computational singularities in fluid-like regimes close to rest, the elastic–perfectly plastic theory based on the Drucker–Prager yield criterion is combined with the theory of dense granular flows. By implementing some new modifications at the boundaries and removing all ghost particles, smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is used as the framework for the method. A number of benchmark problems have been solved to show the capabilities of the new modified SPH method. Precise prediction of both location and pressure makes the modifications comparable with the previous works on SPH. Finally, the method is used to solve the classic 2D dry granular cliff collapse problem and to model dry granular material flow inside a rotary drum. The outcomes of the numerical simulation show good agreement with tabletop experiments and published results.     

Nonlinear elasto-plastic model for dense granular flow

This work proposes a model for granular deformation that predicts the stress and velocity profiles in well-developed dense granular flows. Recent models for granular elasticity [Jiang, Y., Liu, M., 2003. Granular elasticity without the Coulomb condition. Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 144301] and rate-sensitive fluid-like flow [Jop, P., Forterre, Y., Pouliquen, O., 2006. A constitutive law for dense granular flows. Nature 441, 727] are reformulated and combined into one universal elasto-plastic law, capable of predicting flowing regions and stagnant zones simultaneously in any arbitrary 3D flow geometry. The unification is performed by justifying and implementing a Kröner–Lee decomposition, with care taken to ensure certain continuum physical principles are necessarily upheld. The model is then numerically implemented in multiple geometries and results are compared to experiments and discrete simulations.     

Inelastic behavior of an AS4/PEEK composite under combined transverse compression and shear. Part I: experiments

The nonlinear behavior in shear and transverse compression of unidirectional AS4/PEEK and their interaction are investigated experimentally. The composite is rate dependent even at room temperature and its rate exponent is similar to that of neat PEEK. The material is tested under pure shear, pure compression and under biaxial loading histories. The biaxial tests are performed in a custom facility on thin strips of the material. The facility allows freedom to choose the loading path in the biaxial stress and strain spaces of interest. Tests are performed for three biaxial loading paths. In the first, the specimen is sheared then compressed while the shear stress is held constant; in the second, the specimen is compressed then sheared while the compressive stress is held constant; and in the third, the specimen is loaded simultaneously by proportional amounts of compression and shear. It was found that the induced deformation is influenced significantly by the loading history followed. Also, initial loading in shear or compression has only a modest effect on subsequent loading of the other type. An unorthodox yielding behavior for the composite results from this lack of interaction. Finally, the stresses at failure are found to trace an elliptical path in the shear–transverse compression plane, but the failure stress state is not significantly affected by the loading path followed.     

Rheology of highly concentrated anionic surfactants

Surfactant solution flow behavior is of great importance to both the chemical and consumer product industries. Most studies on the flow behavior of surfactant solutions, however, have focused on the dilute regime. Seldom reported is rheology in the highly concentrated regime where typically these surfactants are processed and delivered. First, we present here the phase diagram for the ternary system: water and two anionic surfactants (sodium salt of lauric and oleic acid) at different temperatures. Then, we present both linear viscoelastic and steady shear flow results in the high (70 to 90%) surfactant regime. We find that high values of the shear modulus are directly dependent on the quantity of surfactant crystals and that the formation of a lamellar liquid crystal phase at 45°C affects both modulus and flow of the system. Lamellar crystals create a stiff network resulting in wall slip at large shear strain. Using serrated plates removes slip at the wall and we find a shear rate where microfractures localize in a preferential plane and the material flows. This behavior is reversible.     

Navier��s Slip Problem for Motion of Inhomogeneous Incompressible Fluid-like Bodies

In this paper we are concerned with a flow of inhomogeneous incompressible fluid-like bodies (IIFB). The concept of IIFB is arised from the analysis of a certain type of granular flows. It is esssentially important to assign the so-called ‘slip’ boundary condition due to its behaviour at the surface, thus we take into account the Navier’s slip condition. Here, the theorem on the unique solvability, local in time, is proved.     

基于应力波动的修正非局部流变模型

基于Pouliquen 提出的非局部流变模型,考虑颗粒流中某个位置重新排列引起的自激发过程,详细分析颗粒介质中应力波动幅值的概率密度分布形式以及剪切速率与体积分数的耦合作用,提出一种修正的非局部流变模型. 采用此修正非局部流变模型对斜面剪切颗粒流的流动特性进行了预测,颗粒流动的临界厚度、平均流动速度及剪切速率廓线的预测结果与实验结果定量吻合. 此修正模型的提出为复杂的密集颗粒流的描述和表征提供了一种新的研究思路.      

Stress tensor measurement using birefringence in oblique transmission

A method for measuring the stress tensor of liquids obeying the stress-optical rule is presented. In particular, the procedure makes it possible to determine the shear stress, and the first and second normal stress differences for rheometric flows. This technique is an extension of the procedure recently described by Burghardt and coworkers (Brown et al., 1995) wherein light is sent obliquely through a sample sheared between transparent plates. However, in the present development, the light is transmitted in the plane containing the velocity gradient and neutral directions, thereby reducing the necessary optical measurements by one. A polystyrene-tricresyl phosphate (TCP) solution is used as the test sample. The first and second normal stress differences in steady shear flow measured by this method show good agreement with the mechanical results measured by Madga et al. (1993) using a modified cone and plate rheometer. The transient behavior of the first and second normal stress differences following the start-up of shear flow is also presented.     

Discrete simulation and micromechanical analysis of two-dimensional saturated granular media

In this study, a novel approach to incorporate the pore water pressure in the discrete element method (DEM) to comprehensively model saturated granular media was developed. A numerical model was constructed based on the DEM by implanting additional routines in the basic DEM code; pore water pressure calculations were used with a two-dimensional (2D) model to simulate the undrained behavior of saturated granular media. This model coupled the interaction of solid particles and the pore fluid in saturated granular media. Finally, several 2D undrained shear tests were simulated. The test results showed that the model could predict the response of the saturated granular soil to shear loading. The effect of initial compaction was investigated. Biaxial tests on dense and loose specimens were conducted, and the effect of the initial density on the change in shear strength and the volume change of the system was investigated. The overall behavior of loose and dense specimens was phenomenologically similar to the real granular material. Constant volume tests were simulated, and the results were compared to those from the coupled model. Induced anisotropy was micromechanically investigated by studying the contact force orientation. The change in anisotropy depended on the modeling scheme. However, the overall responses of the media obtained using the coupled and constant volume methods were similar.     

Discrete simulation and micromechanical analysis of two-dimensional saturated granular media

In this study, a novel approach to incorporate the pore water pressure in the discrete element method （DEM） to comprehensively model saturated granular media was developed. A numerical model was constructed based on the DEM by implanting additional routines in the basic DEM code; pore water pressure calculations were used with a two-dimensional （2D） model to simulate the undrained behavior of satu- rated granular media. This model coupled the interaction of solid particles and the pore fluid in saturated granular media. Finally, several 2D undrained shear tests were simulated. The test results showed that the model could predict the response of the saturated granular soil to shear loading. The effect of initial compaction was investigated. Biaxial tests on dense and loose specimens were conducted, and the effect of the initial density on the change in shear strength and the volume change of the system was inves- tigated. The overall behavior of loose and dense specimens was phenomenologically similar to the real granular material. Constant volume tests were simulated, and the results were compared to those from the coupled model. Induced anisotropy was micromechanically investigated by studying the contact force orientation. The change in anisotropy depended on the modeling scheme. However, the overall responses of the media obtained usinz the couoled and constant volume methods were similar.     

Granular pressure—temperature relation during regime change in a simple shear state

In a recent study, a regime chart was established for sheared granular systems. For a soft particle system under simple shear, the internal stress showed a range of rate dependency. As the particle concentration increased, the system transitioned from a kinetic gas to a plastic solid. This transition was gradual for low stiffness systems but became more abrupt as the stiffness increased. In this study, the relationship between the granular temperature and pressure is investigated for the same system of particles. The granular temperature is defined as the average kinetic energy per unit volume and the pressure is defined as the trace of the stress tensor. It is found that this pressure-temperature (P-T curve depicts a sharp turn when the system moves away from the kinetic gas regime. However, no signature is found in the P-T relationship in other regimes.     

Steady light diffusion application to rheology: a new tool for the characterization of concentrated suspensions

We present new developments of steady light diffusion applied to rheology. Though many techniques allow the structural investigation of diluted or transparent media, very few give direct information on optically dense systems. The technique proposed here is based on the diffusion approximation and is thus valid for sheared, time-dependent flows.After recalling important theoretical results, we show the techniques ability to determine typical sizes and orientation of structures in shear flows for various concentrated suspensions (emulsions, and an industrial softener). In particular, it is able to demonstrate the effect of shear on the orientation of anisotropic objects. Moreover, the use of simple structural models incorporating the measured anisotropy allows good predictions of experimental rheological measurements. This new technique, applicable to a wide range of colloidal systems, is very helpful to characterize the shear induced structural organization of optically dense materials.This paper was presented at the first Annual European Rheology Conference (AERC) held in Guimarães, Portugal, September 11-13, 2003.     

ROTATIONAL RESISTANCE AND SHEAR-INDUCED ANISOTROPY IN GRANULAR MEDIA

This paper presents a micromechanical study on the behavior of granular materials under confined shear using a three-dimensional Discrete Element Method （DEM）. We consider rotational resistance among spherical particles in the DEM code as an approximate way to account for the effect of particle shape. Under undrained shear, it is found rotational resistance may help to increase the shear strength of a granular system and to enhance its resistance to liquefaction. The evolution of internal structure and anisotropy in granular systems with different initial conditions depict a clear bimodal character which distinguishes two contact subnetworks. In the presence of rotational resistance, a good correlation is found between an analytical stress-force-fabric relation and the DEM results, in which the normal force anisotropy plays a dominant role. The unique properties of critical state and liquefaction state in relation to granular anisotropy are also explored and discussed.     

冲击载荷作用下颗粒材料动态力学响应的近场动力学模拟

颗粒材料在冲击载荷作用下的动态力学行为是学术界关注的热点问题. 新近问世的近场动力学(peridynamics)理论将材料视为由大量有限体积和有限质量的物质点组成,基于非连续性和非局部作用假定建模,建立空间积分形式的运动方程,自然适应于颗粒材料动态力学行为的描述与分析. 发展了描述颗粒间接触作用的物质点尺度的排斥力模型,考虑近场动力学方法中非局部长程力特征,改进了近场动力学中的初始微观弹脆性(prototype microelastic brittle, PMB) 模型的本构力函数,并消除了原PMB 模型中存在的“边界效应” 问题. 计算分析了冲击载荷作用下碳化钨陶瓷颗粒体系的动态力学响应,得到了不同冲击速度下颗粒体系的冲击波速,PD计算结果与试验结果高度一致;通过颗粒物质点尺度作用描述单颗粒尺度的接触作用,很好地再现了颗粒的转动与平动、颗粒挤压变形以及颗粒破碎等现象;刚性冲击板附近同时存在严重的颗粒破碎与轻微的颗粒损伤,远离冲击板的部分颗粒出现破损,且颗粒破碎主要是由颗粒间挤压、碰撞以及相对滑动剪切作用造成的. 研究结果表明,所发展的计算模型和分析方法能很好地反映颗粒材料动态力学行为,具有广泛的应用价值.      

Exponential shear flow of branched polymer melts

  The behavior of a low-density polyethylene melt in exponential shear strain histories is examined and compared to its behavior in constant rate planar elongation. A new set of shear stress and first normal stress difference data in exponential shear are presented and used in several different material functions that have been previously proposed. Viscosities composed of principal stress differences for the two flows showed no correspondence suggesting that, contrary to previous assertions, exponential shear and constant rate planar elongation flows are fundamentally different. It is further suggested that the presence of vorticity makes exponential shear a weak, rather than strong, flow. Received: 5 March 1999/Accepted: 1 September 1999     

Investigating the transient response of a shear thickening fluid using the split Hopkinson pressure bar technique

The split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique is implemented to evaluate the transient response of a colloidal suspension exhibiting shear thickening at strain rates and timescales never before explored in a laboratory instrument. These suspensions are shown to exhibit a discontinuous transition from fluid-like (shear thinning) to solid-like (shear thickening) behavior when evaluated using rotational rheometry. The effect of loading rate on this transition time is studied for a particle volume fraction of 0.54 using the SHPB technique. It is shown that the time required for transition to occur decreases logarithmically with loading rate. From these results, we conclude that transition is not triggered by a characteristic shear rate, but rather a critical shear strain is required. Results from SHPB experiments performed up to Peclet numbers of order 10⁷ are presented and discussed for 0.50, 0.52, and 0.54 particle volume fraction suspensions.     

颗粒柱塌落中的尺寸效应和瞬态流变性研究

颗粒材料是自然界和工程中广泛存在和普遍应用的材料,泥石流、滑坡和混凝土等均可视为颗粒材料。颗粒材料研究有助于更好地控制相关自然灾害或利用其某些特性。对颗粒材料柱体的塌落动力学研究不仅可以方便理解颗粒材料在瞬态流动时的流变性,还可以引申到泥石流等岩土材料的运动与堆积形态。本文利用扩展多面体离散单元法对颗粒堆积柱的塌落进行了细致的研究,探索高宽比、摩擦系数以及颗粒柱相对尺寸等对柱体塌落的影响。对颗粒集合进行分网并分析每个网格内的应力与应变率之间的关系,讨论其瞬态本构关系。相关研究对于深入理解颗粒材料重力流的动力学性质以及颗粒集合体的堆积形态具有重要意义。     

Scaling granular material with polygonal particles in discrete element modeling

Despite advancements in computational resources, the discrete element method (DEM) still requires considerable computational time to solve detailed problems, especially when it comes to the large-scale models. In addition to the geometry scale of the problem, the particle shape has a dramatic effect on the computational cost of DEM. Therefore, many studies have been performed with simplified spherical particles or clumps. Particle scaling is an approach to increase the particle size to reduce the number of particles in the DEM. Although several particle scaling methods have been introduced, there are still some disagreements regarding their applicability to certain aspects of problems. In this study, the effect of particle scalping on the shear behavior of granular material is explored. Real granular particles were scanned and imported as polygonal particles in the direct shear test. The effect of particle size distribution, particle angularity, and the amount of scalping were investigated. The results show that particle scalping can simulate the correct shear behavior of the model with significant improvement in computational time. Also, the accuracy of the scalping method depends on the particle angularity and particle size range.