ISSN 1062-7391, Journal of Mining Science, 2014, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 417–422. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2014.

Original Russian Text © S.V. Klishin, A.F. Revuzhenko, 2014, published in Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, 2014, No. 3,
pp. 10–16.

_________________________________ GEOMECHANICS _______________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3D Discrete Element Approach to Janssen’s Problem

S. V. Klishin and A. F. Revuzhenko
Chinakal Institute of Mining, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Krasnyi pr. 54, Novosibirsk, 630091 Russia
e-mail: s-klishin@misd.nsc.ru
Received April 17, 2014

Abstract—The 3D discrete element approach is used for the computational investigation of the problem on
pressure exerted by granular material on the bottom and walls of a cylindrical container. Dry friction
between the granular material particles and friction on the container walls are taken into account. The
particles have spherical shape with the assigned radial distribution. The authors analyze the effect of filling
method on stress state of granular medium. Accuracy of Janssen’s hypotheses is estimated in engineering
problem formulation.
Keywords: Pressure, stress state, granular material, numerical analysis, discrete element method, Janssen’s
problem.
DOI: 10.1134/S1062739114030028

INTRODUCTION
One of the classical problems of the mechanics of granular media is the problem on pressure
exerted by a material on the bottom and walls of a cylindrical tank. The first solution to the problem
was obtained by Janssen based on two hypotheses [1]. The first hypothesis is that the lateral pressure
coefficient of the granular material is known, is constant and independent of stress distribution in
horizontal section (analog of the Pascal law in hydrostatics). The second hypothesis is that shear
stresses on the tank walls are proportional to normal stresses.
The current construction norms and regulations rest upon Janssen’s solution with some empirical
correction factors introduced. To use Janssen’s solution, it is required to have explicit data on lateral
earth pressure while the advised values of it vary in a wide range. So, the question on the value of the
lateral earth pressure remains open. Experimental assessment of the accuracy of the lateral pressure
coefficient estimation faces some difficulties associated with the pressure dependence on flexibility of
transducers, walls of tanks and other factors. In the experimental analysis of Janssen’s problem [2], it
is compared with the outcomes of the numerical modeling using continuum approach based on the
finite difference method. The proposed continuum approach neglects the method of tank filling,
which has essential influence on pressure distribution on the tank walls.
It is possible to extend the research by expanding the range of the problems to be analyzed, on the
one hand, and by using more accurate formulations, accounting for inelastic behavior of the granular
medium, its unloading, etc. [3–5].
Let us recall basic provisions of Janssen’s problem. Let ( r , θ , z ) be cylindrical coordinates, p(z ) —
average pressure in the horizontal section S:
1
p ( z ) = −  σ zz dS , (1)
SS
where S = π R 2 —section area; R—cylindrical tank radius (Fig. 1).
The first Janssen’s assumption is that the radial stress is proportional to the average pressure:
σ rr ( z ) = −ξ p ( z ) , ξ = const . (2)

417
418 KLISHIN, REVUZHENKO

Fig. 1. Experimental design.

The second assumption is connected with the friction on the tank walls. The friction is assumed as
developed and upward:
σ rz ( z ) = − μσ rr ( z ) , μ = const , (3)
where μ —coefficient of external friction between the material and the wall ( μ = tanϕ , ϕ —contact
friction angle).
Let H be the filling height (Fig. 1), then the surface z = H is stress-free: p ( H ) = 0 . From
equilibrium equations, after necessary calculations, we obtain:
2 μξ
γR  − (H −z ) 
,
p( z ) = 1 − e R
(4)
2μξ  

where γ = ρg , ρ — density of the material, g —gravitational acceleration. The pressure on the tank
bottom:
2 μξ
γR  − H 
.
p(0) = 1 − e R
(5)
2μξ  

This solution qualitatively differs from the hydrostatic solution. With increase in the height of the
filling, the pressure on the tank bottom grows first and then rapidly levels off (at a height of 3–4 tank
diameters). If H → ∞ , then p( z ) → γR / 2μξ , i.e., the pressure on the bottom remains limited.
The continuum formulations need no hypotheses of the engineering scheme but need formulations
of closed equation systems. Actually, there are no recognized equations in this field.
In this case, it seems appropriate to use the approach based on the discrete element method [6–8]. It
needs neither the engineering scheme hypotheses nor postulation of continuum equations.
The approach is based on presenting a material as a 3D space area filled with finite number N of
separate spherical particles—discrete elements, with the assigned distribution of radii ri ( i = 1, , N )
and the known set of the physical properties (density ρ i , elastic and viscous moduli, cohesion, etc.).
The stress–strain state of this system at each time depends on position of each particle and on forces
at the particle interfaces, as well as on the external forces applied to the system or on the present
boundary displacements.
In real environment, interaction of elastic particles results in deformation and reshaping of the
particles. In the discrete element model, the shape of the particles is assumed unchanged for the
contact time, and their deformation is described by the value of overlap of the contacting particles, at
the assumption that the overlap is much smaller than the size of the particles. The function that
describes the force interaction at the particle interface is the scalar distance function. The force at the
contact point between two spherical particles i and j is expressed in the vector form:

JOURNAL OF MINING SCIENCE Vol. 50 No. 3 2014

 3D DISCRETE ELEMENT APPROACH TO JANSSEN’S PROBLEM 419

Fij = Fn ,ij ⋅ nij + Ft ,ij ⋅ t ij ,

where nij —unit vector defining the contact plane between two spheres (the normal vector to the
plane of intersection of the spheres); t ij —unit vector belonging in the contact plane. The normal Fn ,ij
and shear Ft ,ij components of the contact force are governed by the elastic and viscous moduli of the
model, and on the angle of internal friction ϕ ij between the particles.
Thus, with the data available on the law of the contact interaction between the particles, as well as
the initial and boundary conditions, it is possible to solve equations and define evolution of the stress–
strain state of the medium. Of the highest interest is the steady-state condition reached by the medium
with time.
1. NUMERICAL EXPERIMENT
Let the Oxyz coordinate space hold a circular cylindrical domain with a radius R = 0.1 m, its axis
being oriented along Oz (Fig. 1), and the bottom bounded by the plane z = 0. Granular material is a set
of N = 130 000 discrete elements with the density ρ i = 2500 kg/m3 and elastic modulus Ei = 10 GPa
( i = 1, , N ). The radii of the elements–particles are either assumed equal ( ri = 0.003 m), or selected
out of a uniform distribution on the interval from 0.0025 to 0.0035 m.
The tank filling followed two methods. In the first method, material was filled in equal batches, by
gravity. Each new batch was filled from the height of 1 m off the plane Oxy after the previously filled
batches reached equilibrium. Settled, the material formed a random packing limited from above by
the free surface z = H (Fig. 1).
With this filling, a series of numerical experiments were performed at different angles of external
sliding friction ϕ ij = ϕ between particles. The ultimate angle of external friction of the particles with
the exterior boundary coincides with ϕ .
This filling method enables calculation of the change in the vertical pressure Pz of the material on
the tank bottom in the course of filling. Figure 2 illustrates the ratio of Pz and the specific weight of
the granular material, γ , at ϕ ij of 15, 30 and 45° for various sizes of the discrete elements. At ϕ ij = 0
Pz at each filling stage is equal to the specific weight of the filled material and decreases with the
higher friction. As seen in the plot, the pressure gradually grows with increase in the filling height
from zero to 2–2.5 tank diameters and then levels-off. This outcome of the numerical experiment
confirms Janssen’s hypothesis. For the comparison, the dashed curves in the plots show the pressure
p(z) calculated from the formula (4) at μ = 0.5774 ( ϕ = 30° ), ξ = 0.4 .

Fig. 2. The relation of Pz/γ and the filling height: (a) particles have equal radii ri = 0.003 m; (b) radii of the particles
are chosen from the interval 0.0025–0.0035 m. The internal friction angles φij = 15° (●); φij = 30° (■); φij = 45° (▲).

JOURNAL OF MINING SCIENCE Vol. 50 No. 3 2014

420 KLISHIN, REVUZHENKO

Fig. 3. The relation of Pz/γ and the angle of friction between the particles: 1—particles have equal radii ri = 0.003 m;
2—radii of the particles are chosen from the uniform distribution on the interval 0.0025–0.0035 m.

Fig. 4. The stresses on the walls of the cylindrical tank: (a) the normal stress σn; (b) the shear stress τn; (c) the lateral
earth pressure coefficient. The angles of internal friction between the particles: ϕ ij = 15° (●); ϕ ij = 30°
(■); ϕij = 45° (▲). The particles have equal radii.

The second filling method consisted in creation of initial distribution of N originally non-contact
particles at a height of 0.5–3.0 m and their further settlement, considering contact interaction. In this
method, it is only possible to find final pressure on the tank bottom. Figure 3 shows Pz / γ for
different coefficients of friction between the particles after filling completion. The value ϕ ij = 0 (no
friction) corresponds to the hydrostatic pressure on the bottom. As in the previous case, the pressure
decreases with the increase of friction between the particles and the boundary.
Let us now consider the stress exerted by the granular material on the vertical walls of the tank. Let
σ n and τ n be the normal and shear stresses on the walls, respectively. The orientation of the stresses is
shown in Fig. 1. Figures 4a and 4b show the normal and shear stresses, and Fig. 4c depicts the
coefficient of internal friction at various angles of internal friction in the material in batch-wise filling.
The engineering statement by Janssen and the continuum formulation assume the condition of limit
equilibrium in the material, while in the numerical experiment based on DEM the medium is in post-
limit state upon filling completion. The equality (3) corresponds to the situation when the material
slightly settles during filling and, therefore, friction develops in full on the side surfaces. In reality,
the situation is more complicated. During filling, particles hit the tank bottom or other particles on the
free surface. This causes compression of the material, and at a certain combination of elastic moduli,
it can change the sign of friction on the tank walls, which is confirmed by the plot in Fig. 4c.

JOURNAL OF MINING SCIENCE Vol. 50 No. 3 2014

 3D DISCRETE ELEMENT APPROACH TO JANSSEN’S PROBLEM 421

Collided, the particles move in backward direction, and flow wedging and the material chocking-up
take place as a result. This phenomenon is clearly seen in Fig. 4b showing the shear stress distribution
by height. The shear stress is developed at the height interval from 0 to 3 tank diameters, after which
it decreases and may become even negative in the top section.
This section degrades if the bottom is moved downward at a constant low velocity. In this case, the
shear stresses on the tank walls are developed in full along the entire height. The stress distribution in
this filling method is shown in Fig. 5. The plots show that the lateral earth pressure coefficient
assumes a constant value, i.e., the granular medium is the in limit state, and Janssen’s hypothesis is
fulfilled with sufficient accuracy.
With the discussed methods of filling, the granular material represents a certain packing of
particles in the equilibrium state. The basic parameters to describe dense packings are: density, equal
to ratio of the total volume of the particles to the volume occupied by the material, and the
coordination number χ , equal to the averaged amount of contacts χ i of all particles with each other
(contacts of the particles with the boundary are disregarded). In the numerical experiment and in the
real-life situation, the packing density depends on friction between the particles and grows with the
increase in ϕ ij .

Fig. 5. The stresses on the cylindrical tank walls under displacement of the bottom boundary: (a) σ n ; (b) τ n ;
(c) lateral earth pressure coefficient. Internal friction angles are ϕ ij = 15° (●); ϕ ij = 30° (■); ϕ ij = 45° (▲).
The particles have equal radii.

Fig. 6. The distribution density of the coordination numbers χ i for ϕ ij = 0° (●), 15° (■) and 45° (▲): (a) the
particles have equal radii; (b) the radii of the particles are chosen from the uniform distribution.

JOURNAL OF MINING SCIENCE Vol. 50 No. 3 2014

422 KLISHIN, REVUZHENKO

If a particle i contacts χ i neighbor particles, then the average coordinate number is calculated as:
N
1
χ=
N
 χi .
i =1

In the numerical experiments, χ were varied from 8.28 ( ϕ ij = 45° ) to 9.48 ( ϕ ij = 0° ), i.e. χ
decreased with the growth of friction between the particles. By way of illustration, Fig. 6 shows the
distribution density f of the coordination numbers χ i of equal radii particles and for particles with
uniform distribution of radii during filling by batches. As it was said earlier, the contacts of the
particles with the bottom and walls were disregarded, and, therefore, the diagrams contain the values
of χ i equaling 2 and 3.
CONCLUSION
It appears most adequate to analyze problems of Janssen’s problem type using the discrete element
method. The distribution of pressure exerted by granular material on the bottom and walls of a tank is
conditioned by the specific weight of the material, the coefficients of internal and external friction,
and the tank filling method.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 13-05-00432.

REFERENCES
1. Janssen, H.A., Versuch über Getreidedruck in Silozellen, Zeitschrift des vereins Deutscher Ingenieure,
1895, vol. 39, no. 35.
2. Widisinghe, S. and Sivakugan, N., Vertical Stresses within Granular Materials in Silos, Ground Engineering
in a Changing World: 11th Australia–New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Melbourne, 2012.
3. Bushmanova, O.P and Revuzhenko, A.F., Janssen’s Problem, J. Min. Sci., 1981, vol. 17,
no. 3, pp. 189–198.
4. Revuzhenko, A.F., Mechanics of Granular Media, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer–Verlag, 2006.
5. Lavrikov, S.V., Simulation of Geomaterial Flow in Convergent Channels with Consideration for Internal
Friction and Dilatancy, J. Min. Sci., 2010, vol. 46, no. 5, pp. 485–494.
6. Rapaport, D.C., The Art of Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Cambridge University Press, 2004.
7. Golovnev, I.F., Golovneva, E.I., and Fomin V.M., Molecular-Dynamic Analysis of Laplace Pressure in
Solid Nanostructures, Fiz. Mezomekh., 2012, vol. 15, no. 1.
8. Teufelsbauer, H., Wang, Y., Pudasaini, S.P., Borja, R.I., and Wu, W., DEM Simulation of Impact Force
Exerted by Granular Flow on Rigid Structures, Acta Geotechnica, 2011, vol. 6, issue 3.

JOURNAL OF MINING SCIENCE Vol. 50 No. 3 2014