Abstract
The Distinct Element Method (DEM) proposed by Candall (1971) has been attracting attention from engineers, because of its effectiveness in the study on the deformation of granular substances such as sand. One of the merits of this analytical technique is its capability to offer useful data which are difficult to obain through experiments. Displacement of each particle and reaction due to contact between particles are example of such data. The authors et al. have been investigating arch action by means of the trap door test using sandy soil. If the method is proved to be a powerful analytical strategy, the microscopic behavior of soil particles forming an arch can be revealed with a satisfactory accuracy.
This paper discusses the applicability of the DEM, comparing experimetal and analytical results.
