A biaxial apparatus for the study of heterogeneous and intermittent strains in granular materials

We present an experimental apparatus specifically designed to investigate the precursors of failure in granular materials. A sample of granular material is placed between a latex membrane and a glass plate. A confining effective pressure is applied by applying vacuum to the sample. Displacement-controlled compression is applied in the vertical direction, while the specimen deforms in plane strain. A Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy visualization setup gives access to the measurement of deformations near the glass plate. After describing the different parts of this experimental setup, we present a demonstration experiment where extremely small (of order $10^{-5}$) heterogeneous strains are measured during the loading process.