Title

Contact law effects on wave propagation in particulate materials using distinct element modeling

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1993

Abstract

The microstructural wave propagation behavior of a granular medium is modeled using the distinct element method. This technique simulates the discrete behavior of the medium by assuming that the motion of each particle may be modeled using Newtonian rigid-body mechanics with particular force-deformation and force-deformation rate contact laws. The present work provides a comparison of the effects of various contact laws on the wave propagational behaviors including wave attenuation and dispersion characteristics. Specific cases which have been studied include linear, non-linear and non-linear hysteretic force-deformation contact laws along with velocity proportional damping. Numerical results are compared with experimental data from dynamic photoelastic and strain gage experiments. Since velocity-dependent contact damping is not a reasonable model for dry cohesionless granular media, it was desired to determine if a non-linear hysteretic contact law could be used to replace the velocity damping. Results indicate that such a non-linear law does provide a damping mechanism which can predict experimental attenuation data, and that the dispersion characteristics are modeled more accurately with this hysteretic model. © 1993.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics

Volume

28

Issue

2

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