Induced Anisotropy in Assemblies of Oval Cross-Sectional Rods in Biaxial Compression

Abstract Stress-induced anisotropy of granular materials which have initially strong anisotropic fabric is discussed based on experimental observations. Major principal axis of fabric tends to rotate toward the major principal axis of stress during the course of deformation. The generation of new contacts in the direction of maximum principal compression is observed up to peak stress ratio. This trend seems to be closely related to the formation of column-like load paths and to the induced anisotropy.