Angular dependence of dynamic load transfer due to explosive loading in granular aggregate chains

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the dependence of packing geometry on the dynamic load transfer in two dimensional granular aggregate chains. The granular media was simulated by circular discs made of photoelastic material. The experimental method utilizes the combination of high speed photography and photoelasticity to visualize the dynamic load transfer phenomenon in two dimensional model chains subjected to explosive loading. The photographs thus obtained were analysed to get the normal and tangential loads at the contact points as a function of time. The results indicate that the load transfer is strongly dependent on the angle between the vectors drawn from the mass centres of the contacting granules. © 1988, Institution of Mechanical Engineers. All rights reserved