Combined high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction and computed tomography to characterize constitutive behavior of silica sand

The deformation behavior of silica sand particles under one-dimensional (1D) loading compression was investigated using nondestructive 3D synchrotron micro-computed tomography (SMT) and three dimensional X-ray diffraction (3DXRD). High-resolution SMT images were used to monitor particle-to-particle interactions, and the onset and propagation of fracture mechanism in a column composed of three silica sand particles. Particle-averaged lattice strain tensors within individual sand particles were measured using the 3DXRD technique and were then used to calculate the stress tensor components via the general elastic stress–strain relationship. The normal stress component in the axial direction (σzz) exhibited a nearly linear increasing trend in all sand particles. Shear stress components were in general small relative to the normal stress components and displayed no systematic trend. Knowing lattice strains, stresses, and particle kinematic behavior, one can formulate and develop a micromechanics-based constitutive model to fully characterize strength properties and deformation characteristics of granular materials.