title: Analysis by x-ray microtomography of a granular packing undergoing compaction.
abstract: Several acquisitions of x-ray microtomography have been performed on a beads packing while it compacts under vertical vibrations. An image analysis allows to study the evolution of the packing structure during its progressive densification. In particular, the volume distribution of the pores reveals a large tail, compatible to an exponential law, which slowly reduces as the system gets more compact. This is quite consistent, for large pores, with the free volume theory. These results are also in very good agreement with those obtained by a previous numerical model of granular compaction.
authors.affiliation: GMCM, UMR CNRS 6626, Université de Rennes I, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France. Patrick.Richard@univ-rennes1.fr
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Philippe
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbe
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourlès
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Thibault
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bideau