Probing the shear-band formation in granular media with sound waves.

We investigate the mechanical responses of dense granular materials, using a direct shear box combined with simultaneous acoustic measurements. Measured shear wave speeds evidence the structural change of the material under shear, from the jammed state to the flowing state. There is a clear acoustic signature when the shear band is formed. Subjected to cyclic shear, both shear stress and wave speed show the strong hysteretic dependence on the shear strain, likely associated with the geometry change in the packing structure. Moreover, the correlation function of configuration-specific multiply scattered waves reveals an intermittent behavior before the failure of material.