Abstract
This work concerns the modelling of the mechanical behavior of granular materials at low loading levels. Numerical (Discrete Element Method), experimental and theoretical approaches are used. A three-dimensional numerical code (called tapio-K) which includes several cohesion laws has been developped. This code was validated by comparison between experimental and numerical shear tests. Furthermore, this comparison has shown that low stress tests are required to identify the influence of capillary cohesion. For this aim, a new experimental setup implementing low stresses was conceived. The measurements obtained from this setup, the simulation results and a theoretical analysis show the crucial role of liquid distribution in the bulk (discontineous liquid phase) on the shear stress. Finally, few application cases (simple compression, discharge of a wet granular material, mobility on a surface soil) are presented in order to show the abilities of the code.