Fabric tensors and effective properties of granular materials with application to snow

摘要: Granular materials e.g., gravel, sand, snow, and metallic powders are important to many engineering analysis design problems. Such not always randomly arranged, even in a natural environment. For example, applied strain can transform distributed assembly into more regular arrangement. Deviations from random arrangements described via material symmetry. A collection exhibits textural isotropy whereas patterns anisotropic. Among materials, snow is perhaps unique because thermal factors commonly induce microstructural changes, including This process temperature gradient metamorphism produces layers that exhibit anisotropy. To adequately describe the behavior of such layers, mathematical models must account for potential feature absent speci cally developed and, most granular general. Material symmetry quanti ed with fabric tensors constitutive proposed here. Fabric statistically characterize directional features microstructure. collective orientation intergranular bonds impacts processes like conduction loading. Anisotropic, analytically here conductivity, di usivity, permeability, sti ness materials. The methodology utilizes homogenization an algorithm linking microscopic macroscopic scales. Idealized geometries assumptions also at scale. tying arrangement ected properties outcome. conductivity model compared measured data. Dry dense underwent lab. Both heat transfer coe cient developing ice structure favored direction gradient. Periodic tomography was used calculate variables required by model. Through tensor, evolution coincides changes cient. predicts erent directions orthogonal due Models do consider cannot predict they strictly valid isotropic conclusions anisotropy be signi cant, symmetry, incorporating o er complete description behavior.