Abstract
We investigated quasi-static deformation processes of granular systems both by experiments and numerical calculations. We simulated the deformation of a regular arrangement of particles using the discrete elements method and found that the initial deformation of the granular system causes the formation of microscopic shear zones through a fingering-like instability of the stress field. These microscopic shear zones propagate as their localized strain increases in magnitude and then evolves into macroscopic faults. The picture of a fingering-like instability is consistent with our experimental results concerning the creation sequence and spacing of faults appearing in a granular system contained in a V-shaped container.
Published Version
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