Study on the Microscopic Structure and the Bearing Capacity of the Elliptical Granular System in the Random Particle Size

Abstract

In this paper, aiming at the problem of bearing mechanism in granular material , we make a study about effect of granular shape on the force chain structure and the bearing capacity by physical experiment and numerical simulation. The effects of the particle shape on boundary constraint force, geometric configuration of force chain and evolution of the local shear zone in the loading process are analyzed. During loading process, compared with the boundary constraint force of the circular particles, the fluctuation of the boundary constraint force of the elliptical granular system with different friction coefficient is significant and the geometrical construction of the force chain in the granular system reconstruct frequently. Furthermore we have studied the effect of cyclic shear loading on the bearing properties of the particles. Results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the effect of the particle’s shape on the microscopic structure and the bearing capacity in the granular system.