Strain localisation in granular media

Localisation de la déformation dans les milieux granulaires

Jacques Desrues (1, 2) , Edward Andò (1, 2)

1 3SR - Laboratoire sols, solides, structures - risques [Grenoble]
2 GéoMécanique

This paper discusses strain localisation in granular media by presenting experimental, full-field analysis of mechanical tests on sand, both at a continuum level, as well as at the grain scale. At the continuum level, the development of structures of localised strain can be studied. Even at this scale, the characteristic size of the phenomena observed is in the order of a few grains. In the second part of this paper, therefore, the development of shear bands within specimen of different sands is studied at the level of the individual grains, measuring grains kinematics with x-ray tomography. The link between grain angularity and grain rotation within shear bands is shown, allowing a grain-scale explanation of the difference in macroscopic residual stresses for materials with different grain shapes. Finally, rarely described precursors of localisation, emerging well before the stress peak are observed and commented.

Domaines: Mécanique des solides [physics.class-ph]; Mécanique des matériaux [physics.class-ph]; Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]; Mécanique statistique [cond-mat.stat-mech]; Matériaux

Jacques Desrues, Edward Andò. Strain localisation in granular media. Comptes Rendus. Physique, 2015, 16 (1), pp.26-36. ⟨10.1016/j.crhy.2015.01.001⟩. ⟨hal-02083353⟩