Abstract
Dynamic loading on granular materials, such as impact, blast, or projectile penetration, can impose large inter-particle forces to cause significant particle fracture within individual particles. Extensive research has been conducted at different strain rates on granular media mass, but very little has been published to investigate the influence of strain or loading rate on individual particles. Therefore, a gap in the knowledge base is present since comprehensive multi-scale modeling of granular material begins at the micro (particle) scale. In this paper, individual natural sand particles are compressed to fracture at loading rates of 0.2 mm/min, 2.25 m/s, and 14.5 m/s using quasi-static unconfined compression and unconfined mini-Kolsky bar techniques. Fracture loads are compared for various “types” of particles within the natural sand, and compared to conventional quasi-static failure definitions for particles. Particles exhibited loading rate dependence when comparing Weibull characteristic tensile strength with loading rate.
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