Acclimatization and screening of a chloramphenicol-degrading strain

Chloramphenicol （CAP） is an antibiotic commonly used in aquaculture as a prophylactic or disinfectant to prevent diseases, or as a chemotherapeutic agent to control diseases. This antibiotic is either spread directly in the aquatic environment or administered through medicated feeds. It may be directly exposed to or enter the environment by leaching from uneaten feeds or from the aquatic animals＇ excrements. The antibiotic also directly enters the environment through pharmaceutical wastewater. Toxicity of CAP to human bone marrow has been linked to fatal aplastic anemia. Antimicrobial residues enter the environment, which may also establish a selective pressure in favour of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The residues of antibiotics may pose potential risk to public health or increase the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the aquatic environment. Due to these perceived risk, treatment of CAP in farm animals intended for human consumption has been restricted. However, residue of CAP in the environment is still a concern. There have been some reports on the residual effects of CAP on aquaculture and on microbial resistance to CAP in certain environments. The biotransformation of CAP in aquaculture pond sediments has been reported, which indicated that salinity is one of the many environmental factors that affect the degradation of CAP. However, acclimatization and screening of dominant bacteria for biodegrading CAP have been rarely studied. This paper studied the microbial degradation of CAP. In order to screen the dominant bacteria for degrading, the source of bacteria was sampled from the aquaculture pond sediments of Baiyun Borough, Guangzhou, China. 60 mg/L CAP was used as a sole carbon source to screen CAP-degrading bacteria and the dominant bacteria were acclimated after 2 months.     

The future of failure: stress or strain?

Strains in rocks can be observed but ancient stresses can only be inferred. We should re-examine the potential of strain geometry as the key to understanding and interpreting common shear structures ranging from faults to plastic shear zones. The concept of failure along zero extension directions can be applied to natural structures in rocks and is predicated on strain compatibility between differently strained volumes. Zero extension directions are considered for two strain configurations, plane strain (k=1) and uniaxial shortening (k=0). The crucial difference between shear fractures, or faults, and plastic yield zones is that the former are preceded by dilatation while the latter are isovolumetric. Volume changes during deformation affect the orientations of zero extension directions and hence of the resulting structures. With isovolumetric strain, yield occurs on planes at 45° to the principal shortening direction in plane strain and at 54.7° to this axis in uniaxial shortening. Uniaxial shortening experiments on rock samples allow estimation of the relative volumetric strains when yield zones initiate. When this volumetric strain is used to estimate the orientation of shear fractures in plane strain, ca 70° dips are predicted for normal faults at high crustal levels, decreasing downwards to 45°.     

Can metamorphic reactions proceed faster than bulk strain?

Available constraints on metamorphic reaction rates derived from the study of natural systems are similar to, or slightly lower than, the bulk strain rates measured in the same rocks. Here, we explore whether this apparent relationship is merely coincidence or due to a more fundamental mechanistic link between reaction and strain. Grain boundary migration accommodated dislocation creep (GBMDC) or grain boundary diffusion creep (GBDC) (i.e. pressure solution), both of which involve dissolution-precipitation as we define it, will occur simultaneously with mineral reactions involving dissolution-precipitation in the presence of a non-zero deviatoric stress. The exact relationships between reaction and strain are different depending on whether GBMDC or GBDC is controlling strain, but the mechanistic link exists in both cases. We present theoretical arguments which show that bulk strain by GBMDC or GBDC, which may additionally be accommodated by processes not involving dissolution-precipitation, such as dislocation glide and climb or grain boundary sliding, should in most cases be somewhat faster than the bulk reaction rates as observed. With few exceptions, for natural metamorphic systems undergoing plastic deformation, strain rates provide an upper limit for bulk reaction rates occurring simultaneously in the same rocks. The data suggest that mineral reaction rates may typically be within one order of magnitude of the strain rate.Editorial responsibility: T.L. Grove     

Rf/øf strain analysis using an orientation net

Since the classical work of Cloos, deformed distributions of elliptical objects such as ooids or pebbles have been recognized as an extremely important category of geological strain marker. However, elliptical objects are not easily analyzed, especially where primary sedimentary fabrics are tectonically imbricated. This paper demonstrates that previously published analytical techniques generally address only specific aspects of deformed ellipse distributions; as research tools, they are like a stereonet with great circles only or small circles only. All of the above methods can be combined with the aid of a new orientation net which is as convenient to use in the field as a standard stereonet. Uniform and imbricate fabrics are evaluated with equal ease and assumptions are subjected to statistical testing.     

Geodynamics and stress–strain patterns in different tectonic settings

Deformation patterns in subduction zones, feeder systems of volcanoes, and rifts are compared and investigated in terms of relations among elastoplastic strain, rheology, pore fluids, and temperature. Regional-scale subduction processes have been explored in segments of the Kuriles–Kamchatka, Izu-Bonin, and Mariana zones. Slab geometry constraints from the 3D velocity structure are used to model the balance of forces in the three subduction zones and to distinguish the regions of predominant push or pull. Stress and strain variations in suprasubduction crust are considered for the case of magma sources beneath the Klyuchevskoy group of volcanoes. Time-lapse (4D) seismic tomography shows crustal magma reservoirs to appear and disappear rapidly as the volcanoes become active or dormant, respectively. This behavior is due to rapid strain changes which cause fast flow of fluids and the ensuing decrease or increase of melting temperature in the magma reservoirs. In addition to subduction zones, stress–strain patterns are modeled for collisional (compressive) settings, with the example of the Altai–Sayan area and the Caucasus, and for the conditions of rifting (extension), in the case of the Vilyui basin. As the modeling shows, formation of a superdeep basin does not necessarily require the crust to stretch twice or more: only 20% stretching in the necking region is enough to produce a 10–15 km deep basin.     

GPS rotation and strain rates in the Baikal–Mongolia region

Current deformation in Pribaikalia, Western and Central Mongolia, and Tuva has been studied from measured horizontal GPS velocities and respective computed strain and rotation rates using 1994–2007 data of the Baikal–Mongolian GPS triangulation network.The GPS velocity field shows two main trends: an NE trend within Jonggaria, the Mongolian Altay, and the Great Lakes Valley and an SE trend in the Hangayn and eastern Gobi Altay mountains, and in the Transbaikalian block of the Amur plate. The velocity magnitudes and vectors are consistent with an SE motion of the Amur plate at a rate of ～2 mm/year.The derived strain pattern includes domains of crustal contraction and extension recognized from the magnitudes of relative strains. Shortening predominates in the Gobi and Mongolian Altay and in the Khamar-Daban Range, where it is at ?₂ = (19.2 ± 6.0)×10^?9 yr^?1 being directed northeastward. Extension domains exist in the Baikal rift and in the Busiyngol–West Hangayn area, where the crust is stretching along NW axes at ?₁ = (22.2 ± 3.1) × 10^–9 yr^–1. The eastern Hangayn dome and the Gobi peneplain on its eastern border show low and unstable strain rates. In central and northern Mongolia (Orhon–Selenge basin), shortening and extension are at similar rates: ?₂ = (15.4 ± 5.4)×10^?9 yr^?1 and ?₁ = (18.1 ± 3.1)×10^?9 yr^?1. The strain pattern changes notably in the area of the Mogod earthquake of 1967.Most of rotation throughout Central Asia is clockwise at a low rate of about Ω = 6×10^?9 deg·yr^?1. High rates of clockwise rotation are observed in the Hangayn domain (18.1 ± 5.2)×10^?9 deg·yr^?1, in the Gobi Altay (10.4 ± 7.5)×10^?9 deg·yr^?1, and in the Orhon–Selenge domain (11.9 ± 5.2)×10^?9 deg·yr^?1. Counterclockwise rotation is restricted to several domains. One is in western Tuva and northwestern Great Lakes Valley of Mongolia (Ω = 3.7×10^?9 deg·yr^?1). Two more counterclockwise rotation regions occur on both flanks of the Baikal rift: along the craton edge and in basins of Transbaikalia on the rift eastern border, where rotation rates are as high as (13.0 ± 3.9)×10^?9 deg·yr^?1, while rotation within the Baikal basin does not exceed the measurement error. Another such domain extends from the eastern Hövsgöl area to the Hangayn northern foothills, with the counterclockwise rotation at a highest rate of (16.3 ± 2.8)×10^?9 deg·yr^?1.     

The effect of Dauphiné twinning on plastic strain in quartz

We present an electron backscatter diffraction analysis of five quartz porphyroclasts in a greenschist facies (T = 300–400°C) granitoid protomylonite from the Arolla unit of the NW Alps. Mechanical Dauphiné twinning developed pervasively during the incipient stage of deformation within two porphyroclasts oriented with a negative rhomb plane {z} almost orthogonal to the compression direction (z-twin orientation). Twinning was driven by the anisotropy in the elastic compliance of quartz and resulted in the alignment of the poles of the planes of the more compliant positive rhomb {r} nearly parallel to the compression direction (r-twin orientation). In contrast, we report the lack of twinning in two porphyroclasts already oriented with one of the {r} planes orthogonal to the compression direction. One twinned porphyroclast has been investigated with more detail. It shows the localization of much of the plastic strain into discrete r-twins as a consequence of the higher amount of elastic strain energy stored by r-twins in comparison to z-twins. The presence of Dauphiné twins induced a switch in the dominant active slip systems during plastic deformation, from basal <a> (regions without twinning) to {π} and {π′} <a> (pervasively twinned regions). Dynamic recrystallization is localized along an r-twin and occurred dominantly by progressive subgrain rotation, with a local component of bulging recrystallization. Part of the recrystallized grains underwent rigid-body rotation, approximately about the bulk vorticity axis, which accounts for the development of large misorientation angles. The recrystallized grain size piezometer for quartz yields differential stress of 100 MPa. The comparison of this palaeostress estimate with literature data suggests that mechanical Dauphiné twinning could have a potential use as palaeopiezometer in quartz-bearing rocks.     

Stress–strain behavior of cement-improved clays: testing and modeling

The results of a series of laboratory tests on unimproved and cement-improved specimens of two clays are presented, and the ability of a bounding surface elastoplastic constitutive model to predict the observed behavior is investigated. The results of the oedometer, triaxial compression, extension, and cyclic shear tests demonstrated that the unimproved soil behavior is similar to that of soft clays. Cement-improved specimens exhibited peak/residual behavior and dilation, as well as higher strength and stiffness over unimproved samples in triaxial compression. Two methods of accounting for the artificial overconsolidation effect created by cement improvement are detailed. The apparent preconsolidation pressure method is considerably easier to use, but the fitted OCR method gave better results over varied levels of confining stresses. While the bounding surface model predicted the monotonic behavior of unimproved soil very well, the predictions made for cyclic behavior and for improved soils were only of limited success.     

Isolation and characterization of phenanthrene-degrading strain Sphingomonas sp. GY2B

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） are of great concern since most of them have been shown to be toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic. Bioremediation, based on certain species of microorganisms, is regarded as an alternative method to detoxify or remove PAHs from the contaminated sites. Phenanthrene has been often used as a model substance for microbial metabolism of ＂bay-region＂ and ＂K-region＂ containing carcinogenic PAH. The focus of the present study is to isolate and identify microorganisms which could use phenanthrene as the sole carbon and energy source. Such microorganisms are expected to be of interest as a source organism for the bioremediation of PAHs polluted soils. The bacterial consortia were enriched from PAH contaminated soils with water-silicon oil biphasic systems. An aerobic bacterial strain efficiently utilizing phenanthrene as the sole carbon and energy source was isolated from bacterial consortia GY2 and identified as Sphingomonas sp. strain GY2B. Strain GY2B was susceptible to some common used antibiotics such as cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and tetracycline and intermediate susceptible to amoxycillin. Moreover, no plasmids could be isolated from strain GY2B using the standard alkaline-SDS method. At pH 7.4 and 30℃ strain GY2B had an optimal growth condition and in this condition above 99.8% phenanthrene was degraded under initial concentration of 100 mg/L. The addition of low concentration of glucose （10-200 mg/L） in MSM containing 100 mg/L phenanthrene could enhance the growth of strain GY2B, while the high concentration of glucose （〉500 mg/L） could exert an inhibitive effect on cell growth. Besides phenanthrene, strain GY2B could also use naphthalene, phenol, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 2-naphthol, salicylic acid and catechol as the sole carbon and energy source. The growth of strain GY2B on salicylic acid and catechol showed that the degradation of phenanthrene might follow salicylate pathway.     

Intelligent prediction of the stress–strain response of intact and jointed rocks

An application of Artificial Neural Networks for predicting the stress–strain response of jointed rocks under different confining pressures is presented in this paper. Rocks of different compressive strength with different joint properties (frequency, orientation and strength of joints) are considered in this study. The database for training the neural network is formed from the results of triaxial compression tests on different intact and jointed rocks with different joint properties tested at different confining pressures reported by various researchers in the literature. The network was trained using a three-layered network with the feed-forward back propagation algorithm. About 85% of the data was used for training and the remaining 15% was used for testing the network. Results from the analyses demonstrated that the neural network approach is effective in capturing the stress–strain behaviour of intact rocks and the complex stress–strain behaviour of jointed rocks. A single neural network is demonstrated to be capable of predicting the stress–strain response of different jointed rocks, whose intact strength varies from 11.32 MPa to 123 MPa, spacing of joints varies from 10 cm to 100 cm, and confining pressures range from 0 to 13.8 MPa.     

Why the OCR may reduce the small strain shear stiffness of granular materials?

The small strain shear stiffness G₀ of the soil is of interest and importance in both theory and practice. It is expected that for granular materials G₀ would slightly increases with over-consolidation ratio (OCR). However, laboratory tests indicate that G₀ may decrease with increasing OCR, especially for loose specimens, which is counterintuitive. To explore the underlying mechanism, discrete element method (DEM) is used to investigate the effect of OCR on G₀. The DEM simulations successfully capture the laboratory observations. The analyses at the particulate level reveal that the decrease in small strain stiffness is mainly due to the decreases in coordination number and the uniformity of contact force distribution during unloading process.     

Modification of strain wedge method for lateral soil-pile interaction in sandEI北大核心CSCD

A modified strain wedge (SW) method for analyzing the behavior of laterally loaded single piles in sand is proposed. The modified model assumes that the lateral displacements of a pile behind the three-dimensional passive soil wedge are nonlinear, which makes the horizontal soil strain variable with depths instead of a constant value in the original strain wedge model, and also employs two different hyperbolic models, one for describing horizontal stress increment-strain behavior of soil in the wedge, and the other for describing the shear stress-displacement property at the interface between soil and pile shafts. An example is analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the modified method, and a good agreement is obtained. Finally, the effects of modifications on the lateral bearing capacity of pile shafts are discussed. The results show that the problem of overestimating the lateral bearing capacity of piles with strain wedge method can be ameliorated by introducing the assumption of nonlinear lateral displacements of piles. It makes the SW method more convenient and effective in analyzing the behavior of laterally loaded piles by introducing the new relationships of horizontal stress increment-strain and shear stress-displacement.     

Does AMS data from micaceous quartzite provide information about shape of the strain ellipsoid?

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in micaceous quartzites with mean susceptibility (K _m) >50 × 10⁻⁶ SI units is known to be on account of the orientation distribution of the para/ferromagnetic minerals (e.g. micas, magnetite), which comprise the minor phase in the rocks. However, the strain in such deformed micaceous quartzites is dominantly accommodated by the quartz grains, which are the major phase in them. The objective of this paper is to explore the extent to which AMS data from micaceous quartzites provide information about the shape of the strain ellipsoid. AMS analysis of 3 quartzite blocks is performed, and the shape of the AMS ellipsoid is recorded to be oblate. From AMS data, the three principal planes of the AMS ellipsoid are identified in each block and thin sections are prepared along them. Quartz grain shape (aspect ratio, R _q), intensity of quartz and mica shape preferred orientation (κ_q and κ_mi, respectively) and 2D strain (E) recorded by quartz are measured in each section. R _q, κ_q, κ_mi and E are all noted to be minimum in the section parallel to the magnetic foliation plane as compared to the other two sections. This indicates that the quartz grains have oblate shapes in 3D and accommodated flattening strain, which is similar to the shape of the AMS ellipsoid. The role of mica in causing Zener drag and pinning of quartz grain boundaries is discussed. It is concluded that during progressive deformation, migration of pinned grain boundaries is inhibited. This causes enhanced recrystallization at the grain boundaries adjacent to the pinned ones, thus guiding the shape modification of quartz grains. A strong correlation is demonstrated between κ_q and κ_mi as well as κ_mi and E. It is inferred that fabric evolution of quartz was controlled by mica. Hence, the shape of the AMS ellipsoid, which is on account of mica, provides information about shape of the strain ellipsoid.     

Resilient and plastic strain behavior of freezing–thawing mucky clay under subway loading in Shanghai

Depending on artificial freezing method applied in subway tunnel construction, a series of stress-controlled cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on freezing–thawing mucky clay to investigate their resilient and plastic strain behavior. In terms of practical engineering, this study focuses on three significant influencing factors which are artificial freezing temperatures, dynamic stress amplitude and loading frequency. This study demonstrates how these influence factors effect on the resilient strain or dynamic elastic modulus and accumulated plastic strain which are crucial to better understanding the strain behavior of freezing–thawing soil. The results indicate that the value of freezing temperature has slight influence on dynamic elastic modulus, but the freeze–thaw action can truly decrease the dynamic elastic modulus of soil, and soil with higher freezing temperature possesses larger accumulated axial strain. Besides, the dynamic elastic modulus decreases remarkably with the increasing of the cyclic stress amplitude, while the accumulated plastic strain behaves adversely. In addition, loading frequency has the least effect compared with other two factors, but lower frequency can generate larger accumulated plastic strain.     

Fry and Rf/ϕ strain methods constraints and fold transection mechanisms in the NW Iberian Variscides

Apúlia is a small Portuguese sector in NW of Central-Iberian Zone, that have been deformed in a non-coaxial sinistral transpressive regime during the first and main Variscan tectonic event (D₁). This deformation give rise to a major NW–SE anticline, where the S₁ N–S cleavage transect the inverted short NE limb; two and three-dimensional strains analysis have been done in the low metamorphic grade Ordovician quartzites of this limb using Fry and Rf/ϕ methods. The data show that most deformation was due to intergranular deformation mechanisms. The intragranular deformation leading to the distortion of strain markers and to cleavage was very incipient and a latter event in the D₁ phase. The apparent plane strain ellipsoids (if no volume change is assumed) related to the intragranular mechanisms contrast with the more prolate strain ellipsoids related to the bulk deformation of Apúlia Quartzites. This constrictional bulk strain fabrics are characteristic of the sinistral transpressive regimes dominant in the northern sectors of the Central-Iberian Zone.     

Effect of particle friction and polydispersity on the macroscopic stress–strain relations of granular materials

The macroscopic mechanical behavior of granular materials inherently depends on the properties of particles that compose them. Using the discrete element method, the effect of particle contact friction and polydispersity on the macroscopic stress response of 3D sphere packings is studied. The analytical expressions for the pressure, coordination number and fraction of rattlers proposed for isotropically deformed frictionless systems also hold when the interparticle coefficient of friction is finite; however, the numerical values of the parameters such as the jamming volume fraction change with varying microscopic contact and particle properties. The macroscopic response under deviatoric loading is studied with triaxial test simulations. Concerning the shear strength, our results agree with previous studies showing that the deviatoric stress ratio increases with particle coefficient of friction μ starting from a nonzero value for μ = 0 and saturating for large μ. On the other hand, the volumetric strain does not have a monotonic dependence on the particle contact friction. Most notably, maximum compaction is reached at an intermediate value of the coefficient of friction μ ≈ 0.3. The effect of polydispersity on the macroscopic stress–strain relationship cannot be studied independent of initial packing conditions. The shear strength increases with polydispersity when the initial volume fraction is fixed, but the effect of polydispersity is much less pronounced when the initial pressure of the packings is fixed. Finally, a simple hypoplastic constitutive model is calibrated with numerical test results following an established procedure to ascertain the relation between particle properties and material coefficients of the macroscopic model. The calibrated model is in good qualitative agreement with simulation results.     

Vertical strain variations in the Osen-Røa thrust sheet,North-western Oslo Fjord,Norway

Vertical variations in deformation style and shortening within the Osen-Røa thrust sheet are examined on the north-western side of the Oslo Fjord. Using thrust distribution diagrams and graphs of throw against height in the stratigraphy, particular formations are identified in which thrusts are either created or destroyed. Many thrusts are killed by a combination of (1) dissipation of slip by splaying of thrusts in shales, and (2) the presence of a thick competent unit that requires a thrust to attain a specific displacement value in order to propagate through the unit in one jerk. The Upper Didymograptus Shales and Ampyx Limestone make an effective combination that kills thrusts with less than 50 m of throw. Within the thrust sheet, deformation styles change vertically from imbricate slices, pop-up and triangle zones with tip-line folds in the Cambro-Ordovician shales and limestones, to buckle folds in the Silurian limestones, sandstones and shales. This change is accompanied by a decrease in shortening from 34% in the former to 17% in the latter. Hence one or several higher, bedding-parallel detachment horizons need to be invoked to separate areas of varying deformation character.     

Biological hydrogen production from organic wastewater with a novel strain B49 isolated from anaerobic sewage sludge

Water pollution of river basin has increased with increasing discharge of sewage and the water quality has deteriorated due to the discharge of organic wastewater. Pretreatment of organic wastewater before discharging is of significance for the protection of water resources. The anaerobic digestion of organic substrates has been a well-developed biological treatment method for wastewater and wastes. Especially, the biohydrogen production using organic wastewater can produce an energy product and simultaneously reduce the pollution intensity of the wastes. Microorganisms with high hydrogen-producing capacity perform an important function in biohydrogen production. In this paper, we investigated the zymolytic characteristics of a novel strain of bacteria B49 isolated from anaerobic activated sludge using waste liquid from a sugarhouse as substrate. The effect of yeast extract on microbial conversion of waste liquid from the sugarhouse was investigated. Different carbohydrates （such as glucose, sucrose, trisaccharide, molasses, etc.） in the waste liquid serve as major energy sources for B49＇s cell growth. The hydrogen yield of 2410 mL-H2/L-culture was obtained using glucose as substrate. When the waste liquid from the sugarhouse （molasses） was used as substrate, maximum hydrogen yield of 2460 mL-H2/L-culture was obtained at 2% of molasses.     

Lattice strain across Na–K interdiffusion fronts in alkali feldspar: an electron back-scatter diffraction study

Cation exchange experiments between gem quality sanidine \((X_\mathrm{Or} = 0.85)\) and KCl melt produced chemical alteration of alkali feldspar starting at the grain surface and propagating inwards by highly anisotropic Na–K interdiffusion on the alkali sublattice. Diffusion fronts developing in b-direction are very sharp, while diffusion fronts within the a–c-plane are comparatively broad. Due to the composition dependence of the lattice parameters of alkali feldspar, the diffusion induced compositional heterogeneity induces coherency stress and elastic strain. Electron back-scatter diffraction combined with the cross-correlation technique was employed to determine the lattice strain distribution across the Na–K interdiffusion fronts in partially exchanged single crystals of alkali feldspar. The strain changes gradually across the broad fronts within the a–c-plane, with a successive extension primarily in a-direction conferring to the composition strain in unstressed alkali feldspar. In contrast, lattice strain characterised by pronounced extension in b-direction is localised at the sharp diffusion fronts parallel to b, followed by a slight expansion in a-direction in the orthoclase-rich rim. This strain pattern does not confer with the composition induced lattice strain in a stress-free alkali feldspar. It may rather be explained by the mechanical coupling of the exchanged surface layer and the mechanically strong substratum. The lattice distortion localised at the sharp diffusion front may have an influence on the diffusion process and appears to produce a self-sharpening feedback, leading to a local reduction of component mobilities.     

Three-dimensional DEM modeling of the stress–strain behavior for the gap-graded soils subjected to internal erosion

In this work, 3D discrete element method modeling of drained shearing tests with gap-graded soils after internal erosion is carried out based on published experimental results. The erosion in the model is achieved by randomly deleting fine particles, mimicking the salt dissolving process in the experiments. The present model successfully simulates the stress–strain behavior of the physical test by employing the roll resistance and lateral membrane. The case without erosion shows a strain-softening and dilative response, while strain-hardening and contractive response starts to occur as the degree of erosion increases. The dilative to contractive transition is mainly caused by the increase in void ratio due to the loss of fine particles. The change from dilative behavior to contractive behavior is more abrupt for the specimen with larger fine particle percentage because the soil skeleton is mainly controlled by the fine particles instead of by the coarse soil particles. The transition from “fines in sand” to “sand in fines” might be associated with the rapid increasing in the contacts associated with fine particles in the specimen as the percentage of fine content increases. The erosion scenario based on the hydraulic gradient is also modeled by deleting the fine particles based on the ranking of the contact force. Compared with the scenario based on random deletion, the remaining fine particles for the erosion scenario based on the ranking of contact force are more dispersedly distributed, which might benefit the small strain stiffness but result in a smaller strength. This work provides some insights for better understanding the mechanism behind the internal erosion and the associated stress–strain behavior of soil. The gradient of the critical state line increases with more loss of fine particles denoting that the fine particles are helpful for holding the structure of the soils from larger deformation.