Computed Tomography Study of Internal Structure of 3D Granular Packing based on Shape

One of the aims of granular physics is to understand how local interactions between macro-particles can give rise to large scale properties of the aggregate. We investigate such local interactions when external mechanical stresses are applied. X-ray computed tomography is used to monitor and track local (re-)configurations inside three-dimensional aggregates of 3D-printed particles of various shapes. By comparing aggregate reconstructions at various strain values, from no applied stress to just after the yield point where the granular packing transitions into the plastic regime, we examine the dependence on particle shape of the local particle reconfigurations that are responsible for yielding or occur as precursors to failure.