Comparison of bulk properties of wet granular materials using different capillary force approximations

Abstract

We perform Discrete Element Method simulations of wet granular matter in a split-bottom shear cell. To calculate the capillary forces from the liquid bridges between the grains, we used three different approximations. The simulations of the shear cell showed a linear increase in bulk cohesion with the surface tension of the liquid, consistently for all approximations. However, the macroscopic friction coefficient shows only a weak dependence on surface tension.

arXiv comment5 pages, 3 figures, TGF2024