Eur. Phys. J. E (2006) 21: 349-357
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2006-10076-2

Regular Article

Capillary cohesion and mechanical strength of polydisperse granular materials

LMGC, UMR 5508, Université Montpellier 2, Place Eugène Bataillon, cc048, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

^* e-mail: soulie@lmgc.univ-montp2.fr

Received: 22 March 2006
Accepted: 8 January 2007
Published online: 12 February 2007

Abstract

We investigate the macroscopic mechanical behaviour of wet polydisperse granular media. Capillary bonding between two grains of unequal diameters is described by a realistic force law implemented in a molecular-dynamics algorithm together with a protocol for the distribution of water in the bulk. Axial-compression tests are simulated for granular samples at different levels of water content, and compared to experiments performed in similar conditions. We find good agreement between numerical and experimental data in terms of the rupture strength as a function of water content. Our results show the importance of the distribution of water for the mechanical behaviour.