Cluster kinetics of density relaxation in granular materials

Madras, Giridhar and McCoy, Benjamin J (2004) Cluster kinetics of density relaxation in granular materials. In: Physical Review E, 70 (5). 051311-1-8.

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Abstract

Of the many complex processes of granular materials, vibrational settling and compaction are common phenomena that have attracted much attention. In this work, we investigate vibrational, or tapping, compaction, and propose that the underlying kinetics involves clusters fragmenting and aggregating, and individual grains attaching and dissociating at cluster surfaces. The periodic vibrations cause cluster breakage and interchange between individual free grains and the clusters. The population balance equations for the concurrent kinetics are solved by a moment method, yielding easily solved differential equations. The compaction ratio defined in terms of the mass moments agrees well with experimental data [Knight et al., Phys. Rev. E. 51, 3957 (1995); Nowak et al., ibid. 57, 1972 (1998)] and other models. A change in tapping acceleration can produce reversible or irreversible transitions between densities, depending on the number of clusters that have evolved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Physical Review E
Publisher:	The American Physical Society
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article is belongs to The American Physical Society
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Chemical Engineering
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2006
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:33
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/9115

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