Multi-scale clustering in granular surface flows
Condensed Matter
2016-02-26 v1
Abstract
We investigate steady granular surface flows in a rotating drum and demonstrate the existence of rigid clusters of grains embedded in the flowing layer. These clusters are fractal and their size is power-law distributed from the grain size scale up to the thickness of the flowing layer. The implications of the absence of a characteristic length scale on available theoretical models of dense granular flows are discussed. Finally, we suggest a possible explanation of the difference between velocity profiles observed in surface flows and in flows down a rough inclined plane.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0109375,
title = {Multi-scale clustering in granular surface flows},
author = {D. Bonamy and F. Daviaud and L. Laurent and M. Bonetti and J. P. Bouchaud},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0109375},
year = {2016}
}
Comments
4 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett