ABSTRACT
This paper is aimed to contribute for clarifying the influence of rotation of the particles on the shear strength of granular materials. In this study the Distinct Element Method (D.E.M.) is used as a powerful tool for studying the complex nature of granular materials. The results of the numerical biaxial tests on the spherical particle assemblies show that the inhibition of the particle rotation increases the internal friction angle, accompanied by a great dilatancy. The elastic slope is slightly different and the peak and residual resistance are largely different. These results are in agreement with the results on the non-circular particles. It can be concluded that a very important aspect of the behavior of a natural granular media is the rotation limitation of particles, which is a direct result of the natural shape of the particles.
