ABSTRACT
Image analysis was conducted to visualize load transmission in an analog granular soil during model pile penetration tests. The tests were carried out in a plane-strain container filled with granular mechanoluminescent-coated particles that emit force-induced luminance. Particle contact force chains at peak pile loads are shown to be in reasonable agreement with particle displacement fields. A methodology to correct for time decay of particle luminance and lens shading (gradual reduction of image brightness) was developed to better quantify the relationship between macroscopic particle luminance and applied force.
