Title: Semi-infinite plates dragged through granular beds

Author (Poster): Mingjiang Tao, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Abstract:

We perform physical experiments and 2D Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations of semi-infinite plates dragged through granular beds at low speeds. The plate’s displacement, x, creates a growing surcharge in front of the plate (pile- up) that takes the shape of a wedge. The cross-sectional area of the pile-up wedge is proportional to xZ where Z is the immersion depth and the drag resistance increases from its yielding value with xZ. We extend classical Coulomb’s earth pressure theory for yielding walls to account for the piling-up effect and find good agreement with simulations and physical measurements.

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