The discrete element method has been employed to simulate vertical one-dimensional compression of
an idealised soil. Direct measurement of the full stress tensor was possible and the results show that K0
(the ratio of horizontal to vertical effective stresses) increases with void ratio, which is consistent with
previous experimental studies. The anisotropic fabric induced during compression was quantified by
considering the orientations and magnitudes of the normal contact forces. For the denser samples
there was a definite bias towards more vertically oriented contacts, resulting in lower stresses being
transmitted in the horizontal direction for a given vertical stress. In contrast, the contacts were oriented
more isotropically in the looser samples, allowing more similar stresses to be transmitted in the
horizontal and vertical directions.