https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202124914014
Bulk modulus of soft particle assemblies under compression
1
Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Québec, Canada
2
LMGC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
3
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
4
Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
* e-mail: david.cantor@polymtl.ca
Published online: 7 June 2021
Using a numerical approach based on the coupling of the discrete and finite element methods, we explore the variation of the bulk modulus K of soft particle assemblies undergoing isotropic compression. As the assemblies densify under pressure-controlled boundary conditions, we show that the non-linearities of K rapidly deviate from predictions standing on a small-strain framework or the, so-called, Equivalent Medium Theory (EMT). Using the granular stress tensor and extracting the bulk properties of single representative grains under compression, we propose a model to predict the evolution of K as a function of the sample’s solid fraction and a reference state as the applied pressure P→0. The model closely reproduces the trends observed in our numerical experiments confirming the behavior scalability of soft particle assemblies from the individual particle scale. Finally, we present the effect of the interparticle friction on K’s evolution and how our model easily adapts to such a mechanical constraint.
A video is available at https://doi.org/10.48448/6v3e-gz84
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2021
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
