Polygons vs. clumps of discs: a numerical study of the influence of grain shape on the mechanical behaviour of granular materials

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to compare how different grain shapes, specifically polygons and clumps of discs, influence the mechanical behavior of 2D granular materials under compression.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed numerical analysis of the effects of grain shape, characterized by a parameter, on the mechanical response of granular assemblies under compression.

Findings

Concavity parameter $eta$ enhances mechanical performance in dense samples.

Envelope deviation parameter $eta$ influences large strain behavior.

Polygon samples develop shear bands, while clump samples show damage zones.

Abstract

We performed a series of numerical vertical compression tests on assemblies of 2D granular material using a Discrete Element code and studied the results with regard to the grain shape. The samples consist of 5,000 grains made from either 3 overlapping discs (clumps - grains with concavities) or six-edged polygons (convex grains). These two grain type have similar external envelopes, which is a function of a geometrical parameter $\alpha$. In this paper, the numerical procedure applied is briefly presented followed by the description of the granular model used. Observations and mechanical analysis of dense and loose granular assemblies under isotropic loading are made. The mechanical response of our numerical granular samples is studied in the framework of the classical vertical compression test with constant lateral stress (biaxial test). The comparison of macroscopic responses of dense and loose samples with various grain shapes shows that when $\alpha$ is considered a concavity parameter, it is therefore a relevant variable for increasing mechanical performances of dense samples. When $\alpha$ is considered an envelope deviation from perfect sphericity, it can control mechanical performances for large strains. Finally, we present some remarks concerning the kinematics of the deformed samples: while some polygon samples subjected to a vertical compression present large damage zones (any polygon shape), dense samples made of clumps always exhibit thin reflecting shear bands. This paper was written as part of a CEGEO research project www.granuloscience.com