Numerical solution to the shearing flow of granular materials between two plates

We study the shearing flow of granular materials between two horizontal flat plates where the top plate is moving with a constant speed. The constitutive relation used for the stress is based on the continuum model proposed by Rajagopal and Massoudi (DOE Report, DOE/PETC/TR-90/3, 1990). The material coefficients such as viscosity and normal stress coefficients are based on the model of Boyle and Massoudi (Int. J. Eng. Sci 28 (1990) 1261). The governing equations are non-dimensionalized and the resulting system of non-linear differential equations is solved numerically using finite difference technique.     

Modeling of textural anisotropy in granular materials with stochastic micro-polar hypoplasticity

The paper deals with a numerical analysis of the effect of textural anisotropy on the behaviour of cohesionless granular materials with consideration of shear localization. For a simulation of the mechanical behaviour of a granular material during a monotonic deformation path, an isotropic micro-polar hypoplastic constitutive model was used. To describe textural effects, spatially correlated random fields of the initial void ratio were subject to rotation against the horizontal axis. The 2D random fields were generated using a conditional rejection method. The results were compared with those obtained with an anisotropic micro-polar constitutive model for a uniform distribution of the initial void ratio. The calculations were carried out with an initially dense granular specimen during plane strain compression under constant lateral pressure.     

Tensile fracture behavior of heterogeneous materials based on fractal geometry

Many of heterogeneous structural materials, like concrete, have different behavior under tensile stresses in comparison to their behavior under compressive stresses. The aim of this paper is to interpret behavior of such materials subjected to tensile stresses, by using newly introduced concept of fractal geometry. In the first part of this paper, tensile behavior of granular composites has been studied by using fractal geometry. It is shown that the fractality of the cross section in this kind of composites can be used to interpret the size effect on tensile strength. In fact, this work is a modification with innovations on the previous studies on fractal based size effect.This hypothesis that the fracture surfaces of quasi-brittle materials are fractals has been verified by several investigations. Accordingly, in the other part of this paper, softening process in heterogeneous materials is studied. Resulting from presented approach, a new softening curve for quasi-brittle materials is proposed. This new softening curve is denominated “Quasi-fractal softening curve” and is consisted of two parts, a linear portion in beginning part and an exponential portion in rest of the curve. This makes it very compatible to the pre-existing softening curves.     

The size effect on void growth in ductile materials

We have extended the Rice-Tracey model (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 17 (1969) 201) of void growth to account for the void size effect based on the Taylor dislocation model, and have found that small voids tend to grow slower than large voids. For a perfectly plastic solid, the void size effect comes into play through the ratio εl/R₀, where l is the intrinsic material length on the order of microns, ε the remote effective strain, and R₀ the void size. For micron-sized voids and small remote effective strain such that εl/R₀?0.02, the void size influences the void growth rate only at high stress triaxialities. However, for sub-micron-sized voids and relatively large effective strain such that εl/R₀>0.2, the void size has a significant effect on the void growth rate at all levels of stress triaxiality. We have also obtained the asymptotic solutions of void growth rate at high stress triaxialities accounting for the void size effect. For εl/R₀>0.2, the void growth rate scales with the square of mean stress, rather than the exponential function in the Rice-Tracey model (1969). The void size effect in a power-law hardening solid has also been studied.     

Micromechanical modeling of packing and size effects in particulate composites

This paper is devoted to the introduction of packing and size effects in micromechanical predictions of the overall elastic moduli of particulate composite materials. Whereas micromechanical models derived from the classical ‘point approach’ are known to be unable to model such effects, it is shown that the so-called ‘morphologically representative pattern-based approach’ (MRP-based approach) offers new means of taking some geometrical parameters into account such as the mean distance between nearest-neighbor particles or their size, so as to predict the dependence of the overall moduli on these parameters, at least in a relative way. Moreover, when internal lengths, such as the thickness of interphase shells of coated particles, are introduced, absolute size effects can be predicted as well. Illustrative applications are reported in view of comparisons between such new treatments and the predictions of some classical models which are shown to coincide with the ones derived from MRP-based models in definite limiting cases only.     

Boundary effects on behaviour of granular material during plane strain compression

The paper investigates the boundary effect on the behaviour of granular materials during plane strain compression using finite element method. A micro-polar hypoplastic constitutive model was used. The numerical calculations were carried out with different initial densities and boundary conditions. The behaviour of initially dense, medium dense and loose sand specimen with very smooth or very rough horizontal boundary was investigated. The formation of shear zones gave rise to different global and local stress and strain. Comparisons of the mobilized internal friction, dilatancy and non-coaxiality between global and local quantities were made.     

Mechanics of granular materials: The discrete and the continuum descriptions juxtaposed

In recent years a discussion could be followed where the pros and cons of the applicability of the Cosserat continuum model to granular materials were debated [Bardet, J.P., Vardoulakis, I., 2001. The asymmetry of stress in granular media. Int. J. Solids Struct. 38, 353–367; Kruyt, N.P., 2003. Static and kinematics of discrete Cosserat-type granular materials. Int. J. Solids Struct. 40, 511–534; Bagi, K., 2003. Discussion on “The asymmetry of stress in granular media”. Int. J. Solids Struct. 40, 1329–1331; Bardet, J.P., Vardoulakis, I. 2003a. Reply to discussion by Dr. Katalin Bagi. Int. J. Solids Struct. 40, 1035; Kuhn, M., 2003. Discussion on “The asymmetry of stress in granular media”. Int. J. Solids Struct. 40, 1805–1807; Bardet, J.P., Vardoulakis, I., 2003b. Reply to Dr. Kuhn’s discussion. Int. J. Solids Struct. 40, 1809; Ehlers, W., Ramm, E., Diebels, S., D’Addetta, G.A., 2003. From particle ensembles to Cosserat continua: homogenization of contact forces towards stresses and couple stresses. Int. J. Solids Struct. 40, 6681–6702; Chang, C.S., Kuhn, M.R., 2005. On virtual work and stress in granular media. Int. J. Solids Struct. 42, 3773–3793]. The authors follow closely this debate and try, with this paper, to provide a platform where the various viewpoints could find their position. We consider an ensemble of rigid, arbitrarily shaped grains as a set with structure. We establish a basic mathematical framework which allows to express the balance laws and the action–reaction laws for the discrete system in a “global” form, through the concepts of “part”, “granular surface”, “separately additive function” and “flux”. The independent variable in the balance laws is then the arbitrary part of the assembly rather than the single grain. A parallel framework is constructed for Cosserat continua, by applying the axiomatics established by [Noll, W., 1959. The foundation of classical mechanics in the light of recent advances in continuum mechanics. In: The axiomatic method, with special reference to Geometry and Physics, North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam pp. 266–281, Gurtin, M.E., Williams, W.O., 1967. An axiomatic foundation of continuum thermodynamics. Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 26, 83–117, Gurtin, M.E., Martins, L.C., 1976. Cauchy’s theorem in classical physics. Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 60, 305–324]. The comparison between the two realisations suggests the microscopic interpretation for some features of Cosserat Mechanics, among which the asymmetry of the Cauchy-stress tensor and the couple-stress.     

Influence of grading on the undrained behavior of granular materials

This paper aims at investigating the influence of grading on the undrained behavior of granular materials. Series of undrained triaxial tests were carried out with two different materials, glass balls and Hostun sand. For each material, samples with different gradings and similar relative densities were prepared. Experimental results show that the undrained shear strength decreases when the coefficient of uniformity C_u=d₆₀/d₁₀$C_{\mathrm{u}}=d_{60}/d_{10}$ increases from 1.1 to 20. The conditions of instability for the selected granular materials were also analyzed, based on the sign of the second-order work during undrained triaxial loading. The results demonstrate a significant influence of the grading: increasing the coefficient of uniformity heightens the potential of static liquefaction and the materials become more unstable. Furthermore, numerical tests using the three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) were conducted on assemblies of spheres. The DEM inter-particle parameters were derived from the experimental test results on glass balls. The DEM simulations showed similar behaviors compared to experimental results and confirmed the influence of the grain size distribution on the stress–strain relationship and instability phenomena.     

Coupling effects of void size and void shape on the growth of prolate ellipsoidal microvoid

The combined effects of void size and void shape on the void growth are studied by using the classical spectrum method. An infinite solid containing an isolated prolate spheroidal void is considered to depict the void shape effect and the Fleck-Hutchinson phenomenological strain gradient plasticity theory is employed to capture the size effects. It is found that the combined effects of void size and void shape are mainly controlled by the remote stress triaxiality. Based on this, a new size-dependent void growth model similar to the Rice-Tracey model is proposed and an important conclusion about the size-dependent void growth is drawn: the growth rate of the void with radius smaller than a critical radius r_c may be ignored. It is interesting that r_c is a material constant independent of the initial void shape and the remote stress triaxiality.The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (A10102006) and the New Century Excellent Talents in Universities of China. The English text was polished by Keren Wang.     

Gradient plasticity with the tangential-subloading surface model and the prediction of shear-band thickness of granular materials

An extended gradient elastoplastic constitutive equation is formulated, which is capable of describing the plastic strain rate due to the rate of stress inside the yield surface and the inelastic strain rate due to the stress rate component tangential to the subloading surface by incorporating the tangential-subloading surface model. Based on the extended constitutive equation, the post-localization analysis of granular materials is performed to predict the shear-band thickness. It is revealed that the shear-band thickness is almost determined by the gradient coefficient characterizing the inhomogeneity of deformation, although the stress–strain curve is strongly dependent on material properties.     

Solution of Eshelby's inclusion problem with a bounded domain and Eshelby's tensor for a spherical inclusion in a finite spherical matrix based on a simplified strain gradient elasticity theory

A solution for Eshelby's inclusion problem of a finite homogeneous isotropic elastic body containing an inclusion prescribed with a uniform eigenstrain and a uniform eigenstrain gradient is derived in a general form using a simplified strain gradient elasticity theory (SSGET). An extended Betti's reciprocal theorem and an extended Somigliana's identity based on the SSGET are proposed and utilized to solve the finite-domain inclusion problem. The solution for the disturbed displacement field is expressed in terms of the Green's function for an infinite three-dimensional elastic body in the SSGET. It contains a volume integral term and a surface integral term. The former is the same as that for the infinite-domain inclusion problem based on the SSGET, while the latter represents the boundary effect. The solution reduces to that of the infinite-domain inclusion problem when the boundary effect is not considered. The problem of a spherical inclusion embedded concentrically in a finite spherical elastic body is analytically solved by applying the general solution, with the Eshelby tensor and its volume average obtained in closed forms. This Eshelby tensor depends on the position, inclusion size, matrix size, and material length scale parameter, and, as a result, can capture the inclusion size and boundary effects, unlike existing Eshelby tensors. It reduces to the classical Eshelby tensor for the spherical inclusion in an infinite matrix if both the strain gradient and boundary effects are suppressed. Numerical results quantitatively show that the inclusion size effect can be quite large when the inclusion is very small and that the boundary effect can dominate when the inclusion volume fraction is very high. However, the inclusion size effect is diminishing as the inclusion becomes large enough, and the boundary effect is vanishing as the inclusion volume fraction gets sufficiently low.     

Effect of particle size distribution on micro- and macromechanical response of granular packings under compression

The role of particle size heterogeneity on micro- and macromechanical properties of assemblies of spherical particles was studied using DEM simulations. The response to an imposed load of a granular material composed of non-uniformly sized spheres subjected to uniaxial confined compression was investigated. A range of geometrical and micro-mechanical properties of granular packings (e.g., void fraction, contact force distribution, average coordination number and degree of mobilisation of friction at contacts between particles) were examined, and provided a more accurate interpretation of the macroscopic behaviour of mixtures than has previously been available. The macromechanical study included stress transmission, stiffness and angle of internal friction of the granular assemblies.The degree of polydispersity showed slight effect on both, the void fraction and the elastic properties of the system. The tendency for increase in the lateral-to-vertical pressure ratios was observed with an increasing degree of particle size heterogeneity; however, the different pressure ratios calculated for samples with various degrees of polydispersity lay within the range of data scatter.     

Analysis of grain size effects on transformation-induced plasticity based on a discrete dislocation-transformation model

There is much interest recently in the possibility of combining two strengthening effects, namely the reduction of grain size (Hall-Petch effect) and the transformation-induced plasticity effect (strengthening due to a martensitic transformation). The present work is concerned with the analysis of the combination of these two effects using a discrete dislocation-transformation model. The transformation-induced plasticity mechanism is studied for aggregates of grains of ferrite and austenite of different sizes. The discrete model allows to simulate the behavior at sub-grain length scales, capturing the complex interaction between pile-ups at grain boundaries and the evolution of the microstructure due to transformation. The simulations indicate that, as the average grain size decreases, the relative strengthening due to the formation of martensite is significantly reduced and that the overall strengthening is mostly due to a Hall-Petch effect. This finding suggests that strengthening by the transformation-induced plasticity mechanism is ineffective in the presence of fine-grained microstructures.     

Slip-line modeling of machining with a rounded-edge tool—Part II: analysis of the size effect and the shear strain-rate

Part II of the present study quantitatively analyzes orthogonal metal cutting processes based on the new slip-line model proposed in Part I. The applicable range of the model is illustrated, followed by an explanation of the non-unique nature of the model. It is suggested that the tool edge roundness be comprehensively defined by four variables. Namely: tool edge radius, position of the stagnation point on the tool edge, tool-chip frictional shear stress above the stagnation point on the tool edge, and tool-chip frictional shear stress below the stagnation point on the tool edge. The effects of these four variables on eight groups of machining parameters are investigated. These include (1) cutting force, thrust force, resultant force, and the ratio of cutting force to thrust force; (2) ploughing force; (3) chip up-curl radius; (4) chip thickness; (5) tool-chip contact length; (6) thickness of the primary shear zone; (7) average shear strain in the primary shear zone; and (8) average shear strain-rate in the primary shear zone. The importance of tool edge roundness is further reinforced by a series of new research findings made in this paper. It is revealed that the size effect highly depends on the material constitutive behavior in machining. The dependence of the thickness of the primary shear zone and the dependence of the magnitude of shear strain-rate in the primary shear zone on the tool edge radius are well demonstrated. A surprisingly good agreement between theory and experiments is reached.     

Quantifying the extent of crushing in granular materials: A probability-based predictive method

Grain crushing is one of the micromechanisms that governs the stress-strain behaviour of a granular material, and also its permeability by altering the grain size distribution. It is therefore advantageous to be able to predict the point of onset of crushing and to quantify the subsequent evolution of crushing. This paper uses the data of Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations to inform a statistical model of granular crushing. Distributions of normalised contact forces are first obtained. If the statistical distribution of the crushing strength of the grains is then known, the onset of crushing within an assembly of grains should be predictable. Two different cases, one in which grain strength was statistically independent of grain size and one showing an arbitrary trend, were used to compare with DEM results and so confirm the validity of the statistical method.     

Bauschinger and size effects in thin-film plasticity due to defect-energy of geometrical necessary dislocations

The Bauschinger and size effects in the thinfilm plasticity theory arising from the defect-energy of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) are analytically investigated in this paper. Firstly, this defect-energy is deduced based on the elastic interactions of coupling dislocations (or pile-ups) moving on the closed neighboring slip plane. This energy is a quadratic function of the GNDs density, and includes an elastic interaction coefficient and an energetic length scale L. By incorporating it into the work- conjugate strain gradient plasticity theory of Gurtin, an energetic stress associated with this defect energy is obtained, which just plays the role of back stress in the kinematic hardening model. Then this back-stress hardening model is used to investigate the Bauschinger and size effects in the tension problem of single crystal Al films with passivation layers. The tension stress in the film shows a reverse dependence on the film thickness h. By comparing it with discrete-dislocation simulation results, the length scale L is determined, which is just several slip plane spacing, and accords well with our physical interpretation for the defect- energy. The Bauschinger effect after unloading is analyzed by combining this back-stress hardening model with a friction model. The effects of film thickness and pre-strain on the reversed plastic strain after unloading are quantified and qualitatively compared with experiment results.     

Cell size effects for vibration analysis and design of sandwich beams

In this work, sandwich beams are studied to reveal the underlying size effects of the periodic core cells for the first time within the framework of free vibration analysis of such an advanced lightweight structure. The energy equivalence method is formulated as a theoretical approach that takes into account the cell size effect. It is compared with the asymptotic homogenization method and direct finite element method systematically to show their consistence and applicability. The accuracy of free vibration responses predicted by the detailed finite element model is used as the standard of comparison. It is shown that the cell size is an important parameter characterizing the cellular core rigidities that influence vibration responses. The homogenization model agrees exactly with the asymptotic solution of the analytical expression of the beam model only whenever the cell size tends to be infinitely small.