Dense granular dynamics analysis by a domain decomposition approach

In this article a domain decomposition approach is combined with the NonSmooth Contact Dynamics approach for analysing the global behaviour and the micromechanical structure of large-scale dense granular systems. Previously introduced and theoretically investigated, this method is herein investigated precisely on two aspects: the properties of the interface operators, especially when applied to the corners of the subdomains, and the influence of the substructuring on the solution of a mechanical test. Such topics are specific to the dense granular systems characterized by the discreteness and the nonsmoothness of their behavior.