Acoustic emission before avalanches in granular media

TL;DR

This study investigates acoustic signals as precursors to avalanches in granular media, revealing internal grain rearrangements before visible movement, with distinct precursor behaviors in glass beads and aerogels.

Contribution

It introduces an acoustic method to detect internal granular rearrangements and precursors before avalanches, providing new insights into granular dynamics.

Findings

Acoustic signals precede avalanches in granular media.

Different precursor patterns observed in glass beads and aerogels.

Method allows detection of internal grain movements before surface avalanches.

Abstract

Avalanches of granular media are mainly characterized by the observation and the measurement of the main angles of avalanche corresponding first to the movement of a group beads and to the whole movement of a great part of the grains. These characteristics do not give any information about the rearrangements of the grains inside the granular beads layer. As any movement of a grain produces a deformation of the structure, it is quite normal to expect a sound that will propagate inside the granular medium. We present an acoustical experimental study of the of avalanches precursors signals in spherical granular beads glass and silica aerogels powder (size of grains less than 80 micrometers). Movements inside the material produce sound pulses, these acoustic emissions have been recorded with two piezoelectric transducers placed on the lower part of the material layer. Our results show clearly signals before any movement on the upper part of the bead's layer: recursive precursors in glass beads and non-recursive precursors in aerogels, for angles less than the first avalanche angle. Our methodology allow us to obtaining information of all internal movement in the granular material including avalanches, precursors, and small arrangements.