Granular Elasticity without the Coulomb Condition

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive elastic theory that explains mechanical yield and shear-induced volume changes in granular materials, emphasizing thermodynamic instability and elastic moduli dependence on compression.

Contribution

It introduces a novel elastic theory for granular materials that does not rely on the Coulomb condition, incorporating thermodynamic instability and elastic moduli dependence.

Findings

Accounts for mechanical yield and volume dilatancy

Highlights the role of thermodynamic instability

Shows elastic moduli depend on compression

Abstract

An self-contained elastic theory is derived which accounts both for mechanical yield and shear-induced volume dilatancy. Its two essential ingredients are thermodynamic instability and the dependence of the elastic moduli on compression.