Multiscale modeling of granular matter: a hierarchical scheme

This paper briefly describes a hierarchical multiscale method used to model the behavior of granular matter by linking the fundamental granular scale with the continuum scale, which is being modeled using frictional elasto-plasticity. We show a particular example where grain kinematics are extracted from discrete element calculations and successfully coupled with finite element procedures, without resorting to any hardening evolution functions. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified via a numerical example.