Effect of drying on a granular slope physical model analysed by Discrete Element Method (DEM)

The paper analyses the mechanical behaviour of granular soils in pendular state, using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) with a contact model which takes into account the interparticle capillary forces. The role of water content at different confinement stresses is investigated by using some numerical triaxial tests. The capability of the improved DEM is tested simulating the evaporation process occurred in a slope constituted by glass spheres