Issue
J. Phys. IV France
Volume 11, Number PR5, Septembre 2001
5th European Mechanics of Materials Conference on Scale Transitions from Atomistics to Continuum Plasticity
EUROMECH-MECAMAT'2001
Page(s) Pr5-203 - Pr5-210
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:2001525
5th European Mechanics of Materials Conference on Scale Transitions from Atomistics to Continuum Plasticity
EUROMECH-MECAMAT'2001

J. Phys. IV France 11 (2001) Pr5-203-Pr5-210

DOI: 10.1051/jp4:2001525

Particle simulations as a microscopic approach to a Cosserat continuum

S. Diebels, W. Ehlers and T. Michelitsch

Institute of Applied Mechanics (Civil Engineering), University of Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany


Abstract
Granular materials are characterized by their internal structure which is determined by the shape and size of the individual grains. Even if the ratio of a characteristic length related to a large ensemble of particles (macroscopic scale) and the average diameter of the grains itself (microscopic scale) allow for the application of a continuum theory, the macroscopic response is influenced by the structure on the microscale. Therefore, two natural kinds of theoretical descriptions arise, namely a macroscopic continuum mechanical approach and a microscopic one based on molecular dynamics. The goal of the present contribution is to formulate both kinds of models and to compare the results obtained by the different approaches.



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