Stress distributions on bases of granular piles were predicted based on the constitutive relations obtained by the discrete element method (DEM) using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics to elucidate the mechanism of the central stress minimum beneath piles. The calculated stress distributions are in good agreement with the experimental data of many researchers. A stress peak and a central stress minimum are mainly formed by the granular flows in a pile construction. The location of the stress peak was the same location of the minimum granular velocity before the granular pile became stationary. This suggests that the location of the stress peak corresponds to the base of the granular arching. The stresses distributions on the bases by a homogeneous falling showed the central stress maximum. The low shear stress gradient by the homogeneous falling produces a central stress peak with a gentle slope. (C) 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers