Dry granular masses impacting on rigid obstacles: numerical analysis and theoretical modelling

The assessment of the time evolution of the impact force exerted by dry flowing masses on rigid obstacles is mandatory for the dynamic design of sheltering structures and the evaluation of the vulnerability of existing structures. In this paper, the results of an extensive numerical campaign performed by employing a discrete element method (DEM) code are presented and the role of different geometrical factors (flow length, height and front inclination) and state parameters (porosity and velocity) on the impact force-time evolution is investigated. The impact process is studied to correlate local information with the macroscopic response and a physically based force-time function, generalising the formula already introduced by the authors for the assessment of maximum impact force, in which each parameter is correlated with the previously mentioned factors, is proposed.

Automated summary

The study emphasizes the importance of assessing the time evolution of impact force exerted by dry flowing masses on rigid obstacles for dynamic design of sheltering structures and vulnerability evaluation of existing structures. A physically based force-time function is proposed to correlate local information with macroscopic response, providing insight into the impact process and factors influencing impact force-time evolution.