A THEORETICAL-MODEL FOR THE STRESS-DISTRIBUTION IN GRANULAR MATTER .3. FORCES IN SANDPILES

Following the ideas of the two previous papers we consider the problem of a free boundary system, the sandpile. It is argued that some simpl e model of a sandpile is needed where the angle of repose is at least approximately understood. Such a model is of plates which when deposit ed on the plate pile will lie parallel to its surface. As the pile gro ws the information that the interior was earlier on the surface is bui lt into an extension of the equations of the previous papers. These cr ude equations (which are of first order) are easily solved and the dis tribution of pressure at the base of the sandpile is in good agreement with what is experimentally observed (the dip in the middle arising d ue to arches propagating the force in the medium at an angle different to that of the angle of repose).