Stresses distributions of sand piles on rough rigid plate

Abstract

Finite element analyses were performed using the standard finite element method to simulate conical piles of sand laying on a rigid-rough plate. An isotropic elasticity and a Mohr-Coulomb model were used to simulate the mechanical behavior of the sand. Effects of internal friction angle, interface friction angle, angle of repose of the pile on contact pressures and frictional shear stresses were determined. Distribution of computed stresses along the sand-plate interface did not exhibited any dip near the centerline. Keywords: Piles of sand, Standard finite element method, Mohr-Coulomb model, Contact pressure, Frictional shear stress