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arXiv · 0906.2090

Shear zone refraction and deflection in layered granular materials

Tamas Borzsonyi·Tamas Unger·Balazs Szabo
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Abstract

Refraction and deflection of shear zones in layered granular materials was studied experimentally and numerically. We show, that (i) according to a recent theoretical prediction [T. Unger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 018301 (2007)] shear zones refract in layered systems in analogy with light refraction, (ii) zone refraction obeys Snell's law known from geometric optics and (iii) under natural pressure conditions (i.e. in the presence of gravity) the zone can also be deflected by the interface so that the deformation of the high friction material is avoided.

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Tamas Borzsonyi, Tamas Unger, Balazs Szabo. 2009-12-09. Shear zone refraction and deflection in layered granular materials. https://arxiv.org/abs/0906.2090

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