Generation and effects of different compacted granular materials within the DEM

Based on the Distinct Element Method, three dimensional calculations are carried out to determine the effect of different compacted granular materials. Dense, medium dense and loose compactions of sand are examined. The distinct elements with a linear sliding contact model have always the same properties, but different number of contacts in the ball cluster cause varying behaviours. The earth pressure of sand on plane and on circular building pit wails is calculated with respect to their deformation. To define the parameters of the contact model, the well known plane earth pressure according to Coulomb Is calculated as a calibration for dense sand. Everything else arises from the porosity of the ball cluster. Simultaneously, model tests were executed to check the results. Despite the simplicity of this DEM which uses only a few parameters, the results of the simulation fit very well to those of the conducted tests and classic theories.