The question of diffuse failure in granular media such as soils is treated by numerical modelling with a discrete element model. Two numerical samples are considered, one dense and the other loose. A criterion based on the sign of the second-order work is applied to the numerical model to detect bifurcation points related to diffuse failure. The notions of loss of controllability and loss of sustainability are taken into account to simulate diffuse failure at bifurcation points detected. Therefore, the failures predicted based on the second-order work criterion are numerically verified.