Numerical simulation of normal stress distribution on the base of granular piles

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a mathematical model and numerical technique to investigate the distribution of the normal force on the base of granular piles. Two-dimensional discrete element (DEM) simulations, based on the soft particle contact model, have been carried out to generate granular piles by pouring granules from a rising funnel with a small outlet. The results show that the normal force distributions under the granular piles that constructed from localized source exhibit a local minimum at the centre of the base under the pile vertex. The results are in good agreement with experimental observations.