A study on the micro-mechanical origin of

avalanches:
two-dimensional mono-disperse granular media

Franklin F. Lucero, Alex X. Jerves, Rubén A. Jerves

July 10, 2020

MOTIVATION
Slope stability

Continuum approach: civil engineering Grain-to-grain interactions

A study on the micro-mechanical origin of avalanches: two-dimensional mono-disperse granular media

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS
Conditions:

▪ Disks: infinitely long cylinders

▪ Monodisperse
▪ Wall-to-grain friction = 1
▪ 1438 particles
▪ Contact dynamics DEM

Measurements of:

▪ Surface slope angle

▪ Drum rotation angle
▪ Velocity
▪ Forces
▪ Percentage of contacts in sliding
▪ Percentage of disrupted contacts
▪ The motion of the granular media

A study on the micro-mechanical origin of avalanches: two-dimensional mono-disperse granular media

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS
Four main phases at each avalanching process

A study on the micro-mechanical origin of avalanches: two-dimensional mono-disperse granular media

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS
Algorithm to detect the main avalanche

▪ Based in the Pearson correlation coefficient

A study on the micro-mechanical origin of avalanches: two-dimensional mono-disperse granular media

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS
Algorithm results

▪ Interparticle friction coefficient has

influence
▪ Disk size seems not to have influence

A study on the micro-mechanical origin of avalanches: two-dimensional mono-disperse granular media

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS
Contact behaviour at the onset of avalanches

A study on the micro-mechanical origin of avalanches: two-dimensional mono-disperse granular media

FRICTIONLESS CASE – TRUSS ANALOGY
For which values of theta it works as a granular packing?

A study on the micro-mechanical origin of avalanches: two-dimensional mono-disperse granular media