Homogenization for Granular Materials: non reversible behaviour

Abstract

Using a homogenization framework, this paper proposes a description of the non-reversible behaviour of granular materials. First the basic equations are reviewed and some general elasticity results are presented with a comparison to DEM simulations. The global non-reversible behaviour is introduced by the definition of local conditions of contact stability: loss of contact and sliding. The first consequence is the possible definition of global yield surfaces and thus failure surfaces. These surfaces are compared to the usual plastic criteria. The influence of the different homogenization parameters introduced by the definition of localization and averaging operators is also studied. In the last section, a simulation of non-reversible behaviour is presented. Comparisons to experimental data are made in the case of simple loading paths (isotropic compression, triaxial test) as well as in complex loading histories.