Discontinuities in granular materials: Particle-level mechanisms

J. Carlos Santamarina, Hosung Shin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Discontinuous planes often develop in soils and affect the mechanical behavior (stiffness and strength) and transport properties of sediments (fluid migration and diffusion). The fundamental understanding of the development of discontinuities in soils must recognize their inherent granular nature and effective-stress dependent behavior. We use complementary experimental, analytical and numerical methods to study particle-scale mechanisms involved in contraction-driven shear failure due to mineral dissolution, desiccation cracks, and hydraulic fractures. We show that: (1) under zero-lateral strain conditions, particle-scale volume contraction causes a stress decrease from k0-to-ka so that shear strain localization can develop in sediments with post-peak strain softening response; (2) the development of desiccation cracks in fine grained sediments is determined by the invasion of the air-water interface membrane and ensuing changes in particle forces and displacements; (3) hydraulic fracture results from positive feedback between changes in pore size and the associated changes in particle-level capillary forces (immiscible fluids), seepage drag forces (miscible fluids) and skeletal forces. These particle-level mechanisms are compatible with the effective stress dependent frictional behavior of soils.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMechanics of Natural Solids
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media, LLC
Pages223-238
Number of pages16
ISBN (Print)9783642035777
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes
Event2009 Symposium on Mechanics of Natural Solids - Horto, Greece
Duration: Sep 7 2009Sep 9 2009

Publication series

NameMechanics of Natural Solids

Other

Other2009 Symposium on Mechanics of Natural Solids
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityHorto
Period09/7/0909/9/09

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanics of Materials

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