Tensile test of natural microbiotic crust

The mechanical properties of microbiotic crust are important to stabilize sandy surfaces in arid and semi-arid regions. We developed a new experimental approach to perform the tensile test of natural microbiotic crust. The modulus of elasticity, ultimate stress and one-dimensional stress–strain relation was obtained. The microbiotic crust we measured exhibits linear elastic behavior firstly and then breaks. This mechanical character was applied to the study of the rupture of microbiotic crust under the impact of one saltating grain. A very simple dimensionless variable was suggested to quantitatively assess surface stability.