title: Janssen effect and the stability of quasi-two-dimensional sandpiles.
abstract: We present the results of three-dimensional discrete element simulations of global normal stresses in quasi-two-dimensional sandpiles formed by pouring monodispersed cohesionless spherical grains into a vertical granular Hele-Shaw cell. We observe the Janssen effect which is the phenomenon of pressure saturation at the bottom of the container. Simulation of cells with different thicknesses shows that the Janssen coefficient κ is a function of the cell thickness. Dependence of global normal stresses as well as κ on the friction coefficients between the grains (μ(p)) and with walls (μ(w)) are also studied. The results show that in the range of our simulations κ usually increases with the wall-grain friction coefficient. Meanwhile by increasing μ(p) while the other system parameters are fixed, we witness a gradual increase in κ to a parameter dependent maximal value.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University of Birjand, Birjand 97175-615, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azizpour
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maleki