Influence of Initial fabric and water-wetting on particle fracture and force chain evolution in natural silica sand

Safi, Mohammad; Alshibli, Khalid A.

doi:10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107758

Influence of Initial fabric and water-wetting on particle fracture and force chain evolution in natural silica sand

Journal Article · Mon Nov 10 23:00:00 EST 2025 · Computers and Geotechnics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107758· OSTI ID:3008918

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Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)

Particle fracture has a significant influence on the engineering behavior of granular materials. However, the combined influence of the initial fabric and wetting on particle fracture and force chain evolution in granular materials, particularly in sands, remains insufficiently explored in the current literature. Here, in this paper, one-dimensional (1D) confined compression experiments were conducted on dry and wet specimens, and particle-level fracture was captured using three-dimensional (3D) in-situ Synchrotron Micro-Computed Tomography (SMT). A quantitative assessment of particle fracture revealed that wet specimens, which have disturbed fabric, exhibited a higher fracture percentage in comparison to dry specimens. Complementary 3D finite element (FE) simulations were performed using dry and wet (only solid fabric was considered and the influence of pore water is not considered) sand assemblies to assess interparticle contact forces and particle-scale stress distributions within the specimens. Force chain analysis was subsequently conducted, encompassing quantification of interparticle forces, characterization of force network structures, and monitoring the dynamic evolution of force chains under different strain levels. The results show that the specimens with disturbed fabric led to a more dynamic and less persistent force network, more fabric instability, and thus more reorganization of force chain structures. In addition, the frequent rearrangement of the force network in the presence of water (with reduced inter-particle contact friction) likely exacerbates localized stress concentrations, promoting failure in previously unengaged or weakly connected particles. The results reported in this paper offer a new insight into how the initial fabric and wetting cause different fracture behavior. The findings can also pave the way for more in-depth future investigations into the mechanics governing particle fracture in granular assemblies.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0020112; AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 3008918

Journal Information:: Computers and Geotechnics, Journal Name: Computers and Geotechnics Vol. 190; ISSN 0266-352X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Influence of Initial fabric and water-wetting on particle fracture and force chain evolution in natural silica sand

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