Three-Dimensional Constitutive Model for Dry Granular Materials Under Different Flow Regimes

The numerical simulations of granular materials, in the framework of continuum mechanics, is quite challenging since the constitutive model should be capable of reproducing the transition from solid- to fluid like regimes and vice versa. In this paper a constitutive model, valid under general three dimensional evolving conditions, and capable of describing the material response under both quasi-static and dynamic regimes is presented. The model is calibrated by employing a series of true triaxial DEM numerical simulations performed on a periodic cell. The comparison between model predictions and DEM results highlights that the capability of the constitutive relationship of taking into account the dependence of the mechanical behaviour of the dry granular material on Lode angle, strain rate, void ratio and confining pressure.