Particle finite element analysis of the granular column collapse problem

The problem of granular column collapse is investigated by means of an axisymmetric version of the particle finite element method (PFEM). The granular medium is represented by a simple rate-independent plasticity model and the frictional contact between the granular flow and its rigid basal surface is accounted for. In the version of the PFEM developed for this study, the governing equations of the boundary value problem are cast in terms of an optimization problem and solved using mathematical programming tools. The agreement between model and experiment is generally satisfactory, quantitatively as well as qualitatively. However, the friction angle of the granular material, as well as the exact interface conditions between the base and granular material, are shown to have a relatively significant influence on the results.