Measuring the fabric evolution of sand – application and challenges

The behaviour of granular materials, such as sands, is controlled by the interaction of particles. This interaction can be described geometrically by orientations and statically by forces. Using x‐ray μ ‐tomography and image analysis, it is possible to determine the geometrical fabric at the grain‐scale, whereas the forces still remain inaccessible in natural granular materials. This article shows how the fabric can be accessed using standard...