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Structural evolution of granular systems: theory

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Gago, P 
Matsushima, T 

Abstract

A first-principles theory is developed for the general evolution of a key structural characteristic of planar granular systems - the cell order distribution. The dynamic equations are constructed and solved in closed form for a number of examples: dense systems undergoing progressive compaction; initial dilation of very dense systems; and the approach to steady state of general systems. It is shown that the convergence to steady state is exponential, except when contacts are only broken and no new contacts are made, in which case the approach is algebraic in time. Where no closed form solutions are possible, illustrative numerical solutions of the evolution are shown. These show that the dynamics are sensitive to the cell event rates, which are process dependent. The formalism can be extended to other structural characteristics, paving the way to a general theory of structural organisation of granular systems, parameterised by the contact event rates.

Description

Funder: University of Cambridge

Keywords

Granular dynamics, Structural evolution, Cell order distribution, Non-equilibrium detailed balance

Journal Title

Granular Matter

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1434-5021
1434-7636

Volume Title

22

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC