Mechanisms of Microstructural Rearrangement on Two-Dimensional Aggregates under Compressive Stress
Two-dimensional (2D) colloidal aggregates of polystyrene microspheres 4 μm were experimentally modeled to study the rearranged mechanisms and compression behaviors at the air-liquid interface. The aggregated models occurred due to the interaction forces between particles. The combination of mechanical testing technique and the digital video microscopy had been developed to quantitatively analyze the compressive deformation of 2D aggregates. When the compressive forces were applied to the cluster, these forces were transmitted trough the aggregated network during compression. Solid-like mechanical properties of 2D aggregated cluster were examined. Deformation mechanisms occurred within the aggregated network which presented the particle rearrangements during yield. Elastic deformation had undergone the compressive elastic stress of the elastic loading. Rearrangement mechanisms found generally were rolling-hinge, sliding mechanisms and tensile failure for a small-scale deformation. Shear failure and stick-slip mechanisms caused a large-scale plastic deformation. However, across the yield point, the tensile failures were dominated. Rearrangement mechanisms of particles affected both elastic and plastic deformations.