The influence of inter-particle friction on multiscale response of uniaxially loaded granular material

Avdić, Sanel (author), Nagode, Marko (author), Klemenc, Jernej (author), Emri, Igor (author), Oman, Simon (author)

Multiple energy dissipation sources and tuneable mechanical properties make granular materials a promising candidate for the development of superior damping devices. However, in order to utilize all these advantages, a deep understanding of the influence of various granular material parameters on relations between macro and particle-scale responses is necessary. In this study, the discrete element method (DEM) was used to isolate and evaluate the influence of inter-particle friction as one of the key parameters affecting the responses at both scales. The macroscopic response was evaluated based on the volume ratio, damping capacity, stiffness and load transmission, while an in-depth analysis of the inter-particle interactions, coordination number and number of sliding contacts was used to obtain information on particle-scale response. This approach provided valuable insights into the relation between macroscopic and particle-scale responses and showed that intermediate inter- particle friction values create a balanced force network, offering dual benefits in terms of damping capacity and structural rigidity. Our study confirms the promising potential of using granular materials as the main component of high-performance load-bearing damping elements and points to new directions for future research that can lead to significant improvements in both the scientific understanding and industrial applications of granular materials.

• Language: English
• Keywords: granular material, discrete element method, fricton, energy dissipation, force chain
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 10 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 38
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-172105
• UDC: 621
• ISSN on article: 2214-0697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2025.08.167
• COBISS.SI-ID: 247848195
• Publication date in RUL: 08.09.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of materials research and technology
• Publisher: Brazilian Metallurgical Materials and Mining Association, Elsevier
• ISSN: 2214-0697
• COBISS.SI-ID: 56382211

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: granulirani material, metoda diskretnih elementov, DEM, trenje, disipacija energije, mreža sil

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0182
• Name: Razvojna vrednotenja