Measured kinematic fields in the biaxial shear of granular materials

Biaxial experiments are performed with rod assemblies to study the micro-mechanical deformation behavior of granular materials. The focus of these experiments is upon the micromechanical behavior under mixed boundary conditions, with stress-controlled lateral boundaries and displacement-controlled axial boundaries. Particle motions, i.e. displacements and rotations, are measured during the test. The particle motions are analyzed to study deformation patterns, including shear localization. Deformation patterns in a number of rod assemblies with random packing structures are investigated. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.