Strain hardening by sediment transport

Fernando David Cúñez Benalcázar; Erick de Moraes Franklin; Morgane Houssais; Paulo Arratia; Douglas J. Jerolmack

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arXiv · 2111.01182

Strain hardening by sediment transport

Fernando David Cúñez Benalcázar·Erick de Moraes Franklin·Morgane Houssais·Paulo Arratia·Douglas J. Jerolmack

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Abstract

The critical fluid-shear stress for the onset of sediment transport, $\theta_c$, varies with the history of applied shear. This effect has been attributed to compaction, but the role of shear jamming is unexplored. We examine the response of a granular bed to fluid-shear stress cycles of varying magnitude and direction, and determine isotropic and anisotropic contributions. Creep and bed-load transport result in direction-dependent strain hardening for $\theta/\theta_c < 4$. Dilation-induced weakening, and memory loss, occurs for larger stresses that fluidize the bed. Our findings provide a granular explanation for the formation and breakup of hard packed river-bed 'armor'.

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Fernando David Cúñez Benalcázar, Erick de Moraes Franklin, Morgane Houssais, Paulo Arratia, Douglas J. Jerolmack. 2021-11-01. Strain hardening by sediment transport. https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.01182

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