Shear banding in disordered materials: From atomic rearrangements to particle-scale instabilities--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

a Engineering Materials & Structures (eMast) ikohza, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 54100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
b Institute for Sustainable Transport (IST), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, 81310, Johor, Malaysia
c Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
d Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National Defense University of Malaysia, Malaysia
e Department of Smart Engineering and Advanced Technology (SEAT), Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 54100, Malaysia

10.1016/j.partic.2026.07.018

Volume 117, October 2026, Pages 194-206

Received 13 June 2026, Revised 17 July 2026, Accepted 26 July 2026, Available online 28 July 2026, Version of Record 4 August 2026.

E-mail: amri.kl@utm.my

Highlights

• Shear banding is a universal instability in disordered materials.

• STZs and force chains govern localization across length scales.

• Cooperative rearrangements drive shear-band nucleation and growth.

• Multiscale characterization reveals common deformation signatures.

• Physics-informed AI offers new routes for failure prediction.

Abstract

Localized deformation in the form of shear banding is a ubiquitous failure phenomenon in disordered materials, spanning atomic-scale amorphous solids to particle-based granular assemblies. Although extensive research has been conducted within individual material classes, a unified understanding of the mechanisms governing strain localization across different scales remains elusive. This review critically examines the evolution of shear bands in amorphous and granular systems by integrating insights from experimental observations, theoretical developments, and multiscale simulations. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of structural heterogeneity, particle rearrangement, free-volume evolution, force-chain instability, stress redistribution, strain rate sensitivity, and thermal effects in controlling the initiation and propagation of localized deformation. Advanced characterization techniques, including digital image correlation, acoustic emission monitoring, and in situ X-ray tomography, are discussed alongside molecular dynamics and discrete element method simulations that reveal the fundamental processes underlying shear-band formation. By comparing metallic glasses, polymers, and granular materials, this review identifies universal deformation signatures while highlighting material-specific mechanisms arising from differences in microstructural architecture and interparticle interactions. Persistent challenges in capturing the earliest stages of shear-band nucleation and linking microscale dynamics to continuum-scale responses are critically assessed. Finally, emerging opportunities in high-resolution characterization, data-driven analysis, and integrated multiscale modeling are outlined toward the development of future predictive frameworks for strain localization and failure based on shared mechanisms of local instability, stress redistribution, and cooperative deformation. By bridging traditionally separated research communities, this review provides new perspectives for understanding deformation instabilities and designing more resilient structural and functional materials.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Amorphous materials; Granular materials; Morphology; Phase transformation; Shear band; Strain localization

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