The Effect of Interaction Laws on the Stresses in Frictionless Granular Media

We simulate static model sandpiles in two dimensions (2D) and focus on the stresses inside the pile. In this study tangential forces, e.g. friction, are neglected. We compare the simplest possible interaction model, i.e. a linear spring and a linear dashpot, with a nonlinear law based on Hertz' theory. Furthermore, we present data obtained by a simulation of frictionless polygons with twelve sides also placed on a triangular lattice. The stresses depend only slightly on the choice of either interaction law or particle shape.