Study of Some Micro-Structural Phenomena in Granular Shear Zones

The paper deals with some characteristic phenomena of fundamental nature which occur within shear zones in granular materials. Phenomena such as self-organizing force chain networks, vortices, alternating contractant and dilatant regions within shear zones were modelled numerically using discrete element method DEM. Discrete simulations were carried out with medium-dense sand during direct a shearing test.