Photoporomechanics: An Experimental Method to Visualize the Effective Stress Field in Fluid-Filled Granular Media

Wei Li, Yue Meng, Bauyrzhan K. Primkulov, and Ruben Juanes
Phys. Rev. Applied 16, 024043 – Published 25 August 2021
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Abstract

Effective stress governs the mechanical behavior of porous media. In this study, we use photoelasticimetry to visualize the evolving effective stress field in fluid-filled granular media in processes that couple fluid flow and mechanical deformation. We refer to this experimental method as photoporomechanics. We develop a fabrication process to produce millimeter-scale residual-stress-free photoelastic spheres with high geometric accuracy. We use color to quantify the forces acting on the particles over a wide range of forces, while using light intensity for a small range of forces. We then provide an application of photoporomechanics to illustrate the evolution of effective stress during one-dimensional consolidation: a process by which the stresses caused by a sudden load are gradually transmitted through a fluid-filled granular pack as the fluid drains and excess pore pressures dissipate. Our technique provides a powerful experimental model system to study the grain-scale underpinning of coupled solid-fluid processes in granular media.

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  • Received 4 May 2021
  • Revised 19 July 2021
  • Accepted 30 July 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.16.024043

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Interdisciplinary PhysicsPolymers & Soft MatterFluid Dynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Wei Li, Yue Meng, Bauyrzhan K. Primkulov, and Ruben Juanes*

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA

  • *juanes@mit.edu

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Vol. 16, Iss. 2 — August 2021

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