Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Experimental study reveals strong links between elastic wave velocity and fabric evolution in sheared quartz sand, suggesting sound waves can monitor internal soil deformation.
Understanding the link between the evolution of fabric and elastic wave velocity in sand subjected to shear is of critical significance in engineering practice. To achieve this objective, an innovative multiscale experimental campaign was conducted by integrating triaxial compression with simultaneous wave velocity measurements and X-ray computed tomography. Discrete digital volume correlation (DDVC) was employed to measure particle kinematics and combined with contact detection algorithms to characterise contact-based fabric. The results revealed clear correlations of elastic wave propagation, fabric evolution and strain localisation development during shearing. Three distinct stages of the shear process were observed. Based on effective medium theory, the stress normalised wave velocity was found to positively correlate with the coordination number contributed in the wave propagation direction after accounting for contact normal anisotropy and void ratio, exhibiting a relatively unified relationship. This study provides experimental evidence for a strong correlation between normalised wave velocity and selected fabric descriptors, offering a potential basis for improving the calibration and validation of discrete-element simulations of sheared granular media.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Liang et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: