Effect of drying on a granular slope physical model analysed by Discrete Element Method (DEM)

In the following the analysis focuses on the soils in the pendular state supposing a soil moisture range between 0 and 5%. In this condition fluid is shared only by couples of grains, forming the so-called capillary bridges (or pendular ring, meniscus). Liquid surface tension and adhesion solid-liquid generate strong attractive forces that depend on capillary liquid volume and interparticle distance.