2002 Volume 5 Pages 451-460
As a generalized constitutive relationship for granular media, incrementally non-linear models have been proposed by many researchers. However, it is hard to evaluate the validity of such constitutive models in terms of experiments on real materials. On the other hand, the discrete element simulations have the capability to solve this problem. In this paper, true tri-axial stress probe tests were simulated in terms of 3D numerical discrete element method. The results suggests that the exact behavior of granular media have to be described by a model with incremental non-linearity. The stress probe test result is compared with recent constitutive theories and the mechanism of the incremental non-linearity is discussed as well in terms of an eigenvalue analysis.
