A Micro-mechanical Modelling of the Pressure Dependence of the Void Index of a Granular Assembly:

Abstract

This paper models the increase of density of a virgin loose granular sample submitted to a progressive axisymmetric compression (either isotropic or anisotropic) as an irreversible process which destroys the larger voids; a statistical mechanics approach similar to the one proposed by Boutreux & de Gennes is performed which leads to the equation of the density of normally consolidated states as a function of pressure; this equation is in agreement with experimental data and the typical variation of e (void index) or v (specific volume) vs. ln(p) .