Linear and nonlinear elastic properties of dense granular packings: A DEM exploration

Abstract

Discrete Element Method modeling is used to study the frequency spectrum of particle motion in dense 3D packings of glass beads with Hertz-Mindlin contacts. Frequency sweeps show a dependency of the resonant frequencies on the drive amplitude and confining stress on the system, showing material changes in the system. The amplitude dependency of the second thickness mode 3λ/4 as identified by the internal strain field scales as f ∝ σ1/6 while the confining stress dependency scales as f ∝ σ2/3, as predicted by Hertzian theory.