Influence of grain shape on the liquefaction susceptibility of natural sand soils – a methodological approach
Influence of grain shape on the liquefaction susceptibility of natural sand soils – a methodological approach
KornELa is a research project aimed at characterizing the particle shapes of natural sandy soils in order to better understand the interplay between grain morphology and the mechanical behavior of soils, particularly those that are more prone to liquefaction. The present work focuses on the first step of this investigation: performing grain-size and shape analyses using dynamic image analysis, a 2D imaging method, while considering the advantages and limitations of different approaches to determining grain diameter. Samples were collected mainly from beaches and dunes representing different depositional environments. All samples were subjected to a standardized analytical protocol to determine their grain-size distribution, organic and carbonate content, and grain density. Additionally, SEM imaging combined with EDX analysis was conducted to enhance morphological contrast between the grains and to provide initial mineralogical characterization of the material. Using dynamic image analysis, it becomes evident that achieving good resolution and reliable grain-shape characterization depends strongly on the number of size fractions considered, as this directly influences the statistical representativeness of each fraction. In addition, the evaluation of grain shape differs depending on whether the particle size is defined by its approximate projected area or by its maximum chord length perpendicular to the direction of particle fall. The next steps involve addressing the remaining over- and under-segmentation issues in the microscopic images. Overall, this methodological paper presents the initial steps of the analytical workflow and provides first evaluations on determining grain shape in 2D mode.
Flora Feitosa Menezes; Gundula Erdmann; Maike Groeeschke
International Conference on Advances and Innovations in Soft Soil Engineering (ICAISSE2026)
Multiphysics Behaviour
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICAISSE2026-180