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We present a method to predict how grain size distribution (gsd) evolves during confined comminution. We describe particle breakage as a probabilistic phenomenon considering the single particle strength and the pdf of interparticle contact forces from DEM simulations. Our results show a good agreement with published experimental data.

The approach of micromechanical modeling has been used in developing stress‐strain models for granular materials. This approach takes into account of the behavior at grain level and predicts the stress‐strain behavior of the granular assembly. Although the developed stress‐strain models may be in different form, the issues encountered during the process of modeling are expected to be similar. Most issues are connected to two general questions: (1) How to reduce the errors caused by macro‐to‐micro hypotheses and other simplified assumptions? and (2) For the local behavior at the grain level, how to include the correct physics to establish a suitable yet simple inter‐particle model? These issues will be discussed and suitability of the approach will be evaluated in the presentation.

In this paper we study the influence of internal erosion on the development of instability in soil masses. A constitutive modeling method for granular materials based on particle level interactions has been developed using an homogenization technique. In the model, a simple elastic‐plastic behavior is assumed on each contact plane. A numerical analysis of the condition of instability expressed by the vanishing of the second‐order work is performed in the context of soil subjected to internal erosion. Special attention is given to constant deviatoric stress paths, which are representative of a change in hydraulic conditions within a soil element. Numerical results show that instability condition can be reached along such stress path when the soil undergoes internal erosion.