Investigation of arch structure of granular assembly in the trapdoor test using digital RGB photoelastic analysis

• Published in: Powder technology Vol. 366; pp. 560 - 570
• Main Authors: Park, Ka-Hyun, Baek, Sung-Ha, Jung, Young-Hoon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.04.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Arches; Arching; Assembly; Digital imaging; Granular assembly; Particle; Photoelastic analysis; Photoelasticity; RGB photoealsticity; Trapdoor; Two dimensional models; Particle; Photoelasticity; Trapdoor; Granular assembly; Arching; RGB photoealsticity
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.03.003

The aim of this study was to investigate the arching phenomenon in granular assembly. A series of two-dimensional trapdoor tests were conducted using model particles coated with a thin photoelastic sheet. Digital photo images of the model particle assembly were continuously taken during the tests, and the force of each model particle was quantitatively evaluated using a digital RGB photoelastic analysis. The test results showed that two arch structures were initially generated with trapdoor yielding, and the inner arch gradually expanded to the outer arch, while the outer arch became more solid. Given that the force per particle in the arch structure did not change significantly during the arch formation process, we concluded that the arch formation process progressed through the transmission of the force chains rather than by a change in the magnitude of the particle force. [Display omitted] •Inner and outer arches are generated and finally outer arch only remains.•Size of arches are proportional to the trapdoor width.•Overburden pressure affects the solidity of the arch structure.•Arch formation progresses through the transmission of the force chains.•Arch formation does not change the average particle forces.