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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Stress Distribution During Cold Compression of Rocks and Mineral Aggregates Using Synchrotron-based X-Ray Diffraction
Published on: May 20, 2018
Internal granular dynamics, shear-induced crystallization, and compaction steps
J-C Tsai1, G A Voth, J P Gollub
1Physics Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Abstract:
Internal imaging using index matching, and sensitive volume measurement, are used to investigate the spatial order and dynamics of a deep disordered layer of spheres sheared under a fixed load. Shearing triggers a crystallization transition accompanied by a step compaction event. The delay preceding the transition depends strongly on the layer thickness and can require a translation of about 10(5) particle diameters. The mean velocity varies with depth by more than five decades, and its profile is qualitatively altered by the transition.
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