Computer simulations of the collapse of a granular column

Recently, two independent groups reported experimental results on the process of collapse of a cylindrical granular column. It was found that the shape of the final deposit depended mostly on column aspect ratio; surprisingly, the frictional properties of the material appeared not to influence the results significantly. In this investigation, making use of discrete element code, simulations of an equivalent two-dimensional system were carried out. The numerical results qualitatively reproduce the behavior observed in experiments. Performing an energy balance of the system, the different deposit regimes can be discerned. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.