Fabric in granular materials refers to the arrangement of particles and pore spaces. This study focuses on the changes experienced by the void system in a simulated granular material under shear. Using a plane stress direct shear apparatus, an image analyzer, and fractal theory, this study shows that the degree of roughness of the pore walls affects not only the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the pores but their saturated hydraulic conductivity as well. It was determined that the efficiency by which water is transmitted by the voids depends upon the degree of roughness of the pore walls. The degree of roughness of the pore walls was measured using the fractal dimension concept from fractal theory.
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