Two approximate analytical solutions for the kinematically determined velocity equations for granular solids

For axially symmetric flows of dilatant granular materials, the velocity equations uncouple from the stress equations in certain plastic regimes, and assuming dilatant double shearing a closed set of three first-order partial differential equations are obtained. These supposedly simple equations are deceptive, because although they are simple in appearance, the determination of exact solutions is non-trivial. For one of the known families of solutions which has not been studied previously, the authors present the non-linear ordinary differential equation for the stress angle ψ and determine two small ψ approximations. Furthermore, the stream function and streamlines are obtained for ψ determined numerically and from the two small ψ approximations. For purposes of comparison, the streamlines for three further known exact solutions are also presented. In addition, we briefly examine the circumstances for which solutions of the velocity equations satisfy the principle of non-negative plastic work. For example, we are able to establish that in the case when the velocity equations are derived from a plastic potential, the solutions always satisfy the principle when the material has no cohesion.