The paper presents results of numerical simulations of quasi-static shear d
eformation of a polydisperse system of soft elastic spheres with interface
friction and adhesion. Both axisymmetric compression and axisymmetric exten
sion tests have been simulated. In each case, two shear simulations were pe
rformed: one in which the mean stress was maintained constant and the other
in which the system was deformed at constant volume. In addition to the ma
croscopic stress-strain behaviour obtained, details are provided about the
evolution of various internal variables associated with the micromechanics
occurring at the particle scale. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights
reserved.