Anisotropy of contact networks in granular media and its influence on mobilised internal friction

The anisotropy associated with the contact network in granular media is investigated. A unique expression for mobilised internal friction has been discovered using numerical simulations of monodisperse and polydisperse spherical assemblies under two-way cyclic axisymmetric and simple shear load paths. This uniqueness is described by a linear relationship between the macroscopic stress ratio and the geometric configuration of only the strong and...