Evolution of grain contacts in a granular sample under creep and stress relaxation

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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
School of Science | A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Date
2013
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
032207/1-7
Series
Physical Review E, Volume 88, Issue 3
Abstract
This article deals with the characterization, using an acoustic technique, of the mechanical behavior of a dry dense granular medium under quasistatic loading. Ultrasound propagation through the contact-force network supporting the external load offers a noninvasive probe of the viscoelastic properties of such heterogeneous media. First the response of a glass bead packing is studied in an oedometric configuration during creep and relaxation tests. Quasilogarithmic increases of sound velocities are found in both mechanical tests. A model based on the mechanics of microcontacts between rough grains adequately reproduces our experimental results, especially for the evolution of elastic modulus. Another main experimental finding is that collective grain rearrangements within the packing also play a crucial role at the early stage of creep and relaxation.
Description
Keywords
granular media, creep and stress relaxation
Other note
Citation
Miksic, A. & Alava, Mikko J. 2013. Evolution of grain contacts in a granular sample under creep and stress relaxation. Physical Review E. Volume 88, Issue 3. 032207/1-7. ISSN 1539-3755 (printed). DOI: 10.1103/physreve.88.032207.