Use of contact area trace to study the force distributions inside 2D granular systems

Abstract

We have experimentally studied the distribution of contact forces within two-dimensional granular packings with binary size distribution, composed of water-softener salt disks of uniform thickness, under an oedometric compression. We propose a simple experimental method based on the measurement of contact area to determine the forces that act at the point of contact between disks loaded in their plane. We confirm experimentally the results of numerical simulations on contact force distributions within two-dimensional packings of disks under an oedometric compression.