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  4. Reduced Gravity Effects on the Strength of Granular Matter: DEM Simulations versus Experiments
 
research article

Reduced Gravity Effects on the Strength of Granular Matter: DEM Simulations versus Experiments

Karapiperis, Konstantinos  
•
Marshall, Jason P.
•
Andrade, José E.
May 1, 2020
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering

Quantifying the effect of reduced gravity on the behavior of granular matter is essential to understanding the evolution of planetary morphology and will likely affect the design of future extraterrestrial habitats. Yet despite recent research, the effect of reduced gravity/confining pressure on strength remains undetermined, with scarce results ranging from no effect to opposing trends. In this study, we employ high-fidelity discrete element simulations (DEM) of passive failure experiments to measure the influence of gravity on the peak and steady-state friction angle, and the angle of repose of sand. The results are compared against recently reported physical experiments, lending the latter support based on micromechanical information, that is unattainable experimentally. We find that the friction angles experience a small increase with decreasing gravity, while the angle of repose remains almost constant.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002232
Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85081788473

Author(s)
Karapiperis, Konstantinos  

California Institute of Technology

Marshall, Jason P.

California Institute of Technology Division of Engineering and Applied Science

Andrade, José E.

California Institute of Technology Division of Engineering and Applied Science

Date Issued

2020-05-01

Published in
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume

146

Issue

5

Article Number

06020005

Subjects

Angle of repose

•

Discrete element simulations (DEM)

•

Friction angle

•

Micromechanics

•

Reduced gravity

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

OTHER

EPFL units
Non-EPFL  
Available on Infoscience
November 12, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/255765
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