Influence of Angle on Plate Penetration into Dense Granular Materials (Large-scale DEM Simulation Using Real Particle Size)

Plate penetration into dry granular materials is numerically studied using a large-scale discrete element method (DEM). To investigate the effects penetration angle on the interactions between particles and the plate, the simulations with the different angles from 0 (vertical penetration) to 60 degree are compared. The results show that the drag force acting on the plate increases with a decrease in the penetration angle. For all cases, the formation of shear bands from the plate tip to the free surface in the bed is confirmed. The analysis of energy consumption in the bed shows that most of the energy input to the bed by the plate is locally dissipated by sliding frictions between particles in shear bands. As the penetration angle decreases, the amount of energy dissipation due to the friction increases in the shear bands formed near the plate tip.