Axial segregation of granular materials

When mixtures of granular materials are rotated, it is often found that they segregate into bands, along the axis of rotation, which are rich in the various components. This effect is discussed experimentally and theoretically, with emphasis on a mechanism based on surface flow. The complimentary phenomenon of radial segregation is reviewed, and a mechanism is proposed. Finally, we consider the long-time behavior of rotating mixtures, particularly their anomolous coarsening. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.     

Phase transitions in granular packings

We describe the contact network of granular packings by a frustrated lattice gas that contains steric frustration as esential ingredient. Two transitions are identified, a spin glass transition at the onset of Reynolds dilatancy and at lower densities a percolation transition. We describe the correlation functions that give rise to the singularities and propose some dynamical experiments.     

Mixing and segregation of granular materials in chute flows

Mixing of granular solids is invariably accompanied by segregation, however, the fundamentals of the process are not well understood. We analyze density and size segregation in a chute flow of cohesionless spherical particles by means of computations and theory based on the transport equations for a mixture of nearly elastic particles. Computations for elastic particles (Monte Carlo simulations), nearly elastic particles, and inelastic, frictional particles (particle dynamics simulations) are carried out. General expressions for the segregation fluxes due to pressure gradients and temperature gradients are derived. Simplified equations are obtained for the limiting cases of low volume fractions (ideal gas limit) and equal sized particles. Theoretical predictions of equilibrium number density profiles are in good agreement with computations for mixtures of equal sized particles with different density for all solids volume fractions, and for mixtures of different sized particles at low volume fractions (nu<0.2), when the particles are elastic or nearly elastic. In the case of inelastic, frictional particles the theory gives reasonable predictions if an appropriate effective granular temperature is assumed. The relative importance of pressure diffusion and temperature diffusion for the cases considered is discussed. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.     

Phase boundaries in vertically vibrated granular materials

A boundary structure is observed in beds of vertically vibrated granular materials separating regions of opposite phase. This structure is investigated and it is identified as giving rise to both a global kink and hexagonal patterns. A global phase diagram of surface patterns on a vibrated bed is presented.     

Role of fluctuation-induced interactions in the axial segregation of granular materials

The movement of a few large diameter spheres immersed in a granular medium composed of smaller beads in a rotating cylinder is studied. We evidence attractions and repulsions between the large spheres depending on the rotation frequency. The large spheres also show relative position fluctuations which are Gaussian. A complete study of this problem sheds new light on the problem of size segregation in granular materials and points to the importance of fluctuation-induced interactions.     

Phase transitions in 1-D magnetic materials

Ferromagnetic ↔ antiferromagnetic phase transitions for one-dimensional systems are investigated using the Monte Carlo technique. Ground state diagrams are constructed within the framework of the Ising model. Using the Metropolis algorithm, the effects of external magnetic field and temperature variations on phase transitions are examined. Kinetic features of these transitions are included into consideration. It is shown that the correlational length coefficient v for ferromagnetic materials decreases with increase in the external magnetic field strength, while for antiferromagnetic this dependence is reverse. Behavior of the critical dynamic coefficient z under field variations for small one-dimensional magnetic is similar to that of coefficient v. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp.54–58, March, 2006.     

Phase transitions in materials with thermal memory

A model for thermally induced phase transitions in materials with thermal memory is explored. From a general starting point of the thermodynamics of materials with memory, field equations with an order parameter, temperature and temperature gradient are derived. The heat flux is given by an integral over the history of the temperature gradient. Asymptotic analysis yields that to leading order, there is a relation connecting the discontinuity in the temperature field with the normal velocity of the transition zone. The temperature discontinuity is negligible for low transition zone velocity. The latent heat must depend on velocity and becomes negligible compared with the specific heat as the normal velocity approaches the speed of propagation of thermal disturbances. There is also a condition which is different from the Stefan condition connecting discontinuities in the temperature gradient with velocity, but reduces to this form, under certain approximations, in the low transition zone velocity limit. The circumstances where the transition zone velocity may exceed the speed of thermal disturbances are discussed.     

振动颗粒物质中倍周期运动对尺寸分离的影响

实验研究了竖直振动颗粒床中,倍周期运动对尺寸分离的影响.实验中,当振动加速度足够大时,系统中出现稳定的对称对流,进一步增大振动加速度到某个临界值时,还会出现倍周期运动.观察表明,背景颗粒的对流运动对分离过程起主导作用,对流速度决定着分离过程的快慢,而在2倍周期和4倍周期分岔之后,分离时间有所减慢.对引起对流运动的起因进行了分析,以此为基础分析了倍周期运动产生影响的物理机理,并对分离时间进行了定量计算,结果与实验值符合很好. 关键词： 颗粒物质 “巴西果”效应 倍周期分岔 对流     

A dynamical systems approach to mixing and segregation of granular materials in tumblers

The physics of granular matter is one of the big questions in science. Granular matter serves as a prototype of collective systems far from equilibrium and fundamental questions remain. At the same time, an understanding of granular matter has tremendous practical importance. Among practical problems, granular mixing and its interplay with segregation is arguably at the top of the list in terms of impact. Granular mixing in three-dimensional systems is complicated, as flow induces segregation by particle size or density. Several approaches and points of view for analysis are possible in principle, ranging from continuum to discrete. Flow and segregation in three-dimensional systems is seemingly complicated; however, to a reasonable approximation, all of the dynamics takes place in a thin flowing surface layer. This observation, coupled with key experimental results, leads to a simple, compact and extensible continuum-based dynamical systems framework applicable to time-periodic flow in quasi-two-dimensional tumblers and three-dimensional systems (such as spheres and cubes) rotated about one or more axes of rotation. The case of time-periodic systems, in its simplest version, can be viewed as a mapping of a domain into itself. The placement of periodic points can be investigated using symmetry concepts; the character of the periodic points and associated manifolds provides a skeleton for the flow and a template for segregation processes occurring in the flow.     

Particle-size segregation in dense granular avalanches

Particles of differing sizes are notoriously prone to segregate, which is a chronic problem in the manufacture of a wide variety of products that are used by billions of people worldwide every day. Segregation is the single most important factor in product non-uniformity, which can lead to significant handling problems as well as complete batches being discarded at huge financial loss. It is generally regarded that the most important mechanism for segregation is the combination of kinetic sieving and squeeze expulsion in shallow granular avalanches. These free-surface flows are more common than one might expect, often forming part of more complicated flows in drums, heaps and silos, where there is mass exchange with underlying regions of static or slowly moving grains. The combination of segregation and solid–fluid granular phase transitions creates incredibly complicated and beautiful patterns in the resulting deposits, but a full understanding of such effects lies beyond our capabilities at present. This paper reviews recent advances in our ability to model the basic segregation processes in a single avalanche (without mass exchange) and the subtle feedback effects that they can have on the bulk flow. This is particularly important for geophysical applications, where segregation can spontaneously self-channelize and lubricate the flow, significantly enhancing the run-out of debris-flows, pyroclastic flows, rock-falls and snow-slab avalanches.     

Kinematic segregation of granular mixtures in sandpiles

We study the segregation of granular mixtures in two-dimensional silos using a recently proposed set of coupled equations for surface flows of grains. We study the thick flow regime, where the grains are segregated in the rolling phase. We incorporate this dynamical segregation process, called kinematic sieving, free-surface segregation or percolation, into the theoretical formalism and calculate the profiles of the rolling species and the concentration of grains in the bulk in the steady state. Our solution shows the segregation of the mixture with the large grains being found at the bottom of the pile in qualitative agreement with experiments. Received: 6 July 1998 / Revised and Accepted: 13 August 1998     

Phase transitions in materials with thermal memory and a Fourier term

A model for thermally induced phase transitions in rigid materials with thermal memory was recently proposed, both for the case where the phases have the same conductivity properties and where they are different. In this work, the model is generalized to the case of heatflow relations which include instantaneous contributions of the Fourier type as well as memory terms. The temperature gradient is decomposed into two parts, each zero on one phase and equal to the temperature gradient on the other. However, they vary smoothly over the transition zone. Asymptotic analysis is carried out which shows that, to leading order, temperature is continuous across the transition zone and the normal derivatives of the temperature on each phase boundary obey a condition of the classical form with no explicit dependence on the memory terms. This latter result emerges out of first order terms in the asymptotic analysis. Effects explicitly related to thermal memory only begin to play a role in the analysis of second order terms. These results contrast sharply with those for materials without the instantaneous terms.     

Internal granular dynamics,shear-induced crystallization,and compaction steps

Internal imaging using index matching, and sensitive volume measurement, are used to investigate the spatial order and dynamics of a deep disordered layer of spheres sheared under a fixed load. Shearing triggers a crystallization transition accompanied by a step compaction event. The delay preceding the transition depends strongly on the layer thickness and can require a translation of about 10(5) particle diameters. The mean velocity varies with depth by more than five decades, and its profile is qualitatively altered by the transition.     

Directed segregation in compartmentalized bi-disperse granular gas

A bi-disperse granular gas in an asymmetrical two-compartment system is studied experimentally.The presence of asymmetry within the range of our experimental parameters results in a directed segregated state and a directed clustering state.This deterministic system does not depend on the initial conditions.A modified flux model based on Lohse’s flux model for bi-disperse granular gases is derived.The modified flux model explains qualitatively the experimental results.     

Directed segregation in compartmentalized bi-disperse granular gas

A bi-disperse granular gas in an asymmetrical two-compartment system is studied experimentally. The presence of asymmetry within the range of our experimental parameters results in a directed segregated state and a directed clustering state. This deterministic system does not depend on the initial conditions. A modified flux model based on Lohse's flux model for bi-disperse granular gases is derived. The modified flux model explains qualitatively the experimental results.     

Segregation transitions in wet granular matter

We report the effect of interstitial fluid on the extent of segregation by imaging the pile that results after bidisperse color-coded particles are poured into a silo. Segregation is sharply reduced and preferential clumping of small particles is observed when a small volume fraction of fluid V(f) is added. We find that viscous forces in addition to capillary forces have an important effect on the extent of segregation s and the angle of repose straight theta. We show that the sharp initial change and the subsequent saturation in s and straight theta occurs over similar V(f). We also find that a transition back to segregation can occur when the particles are completely immersed in a fluid at low viscosities.