Thermoelastic stress analysis of composite granular materials

Abstract

The study deals with the stress distribution in two-dimensional "composite" granular media, i.e. built with cylinders made of different materials. Several non-cohesive granular materials were prepared from cylinders in polyoxymethylene (POM) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). After compaction to reach static configuration, infrared thermography was applied to measure the temperature changes under cyclic loading in confined compression. Stress paths were then revealed by thermoelastic stress analysis. Results are analyzed in terms of statistical distribution of the stress level in the granular material.