Shaking a Box of Sand

Preprint 01-03-013

Titel:
Shaking a Box of Sand

Author(s):
Peter F. Stadler, Anita Mehta, Jean-Marc Luck

Abstract:
We present a simple model of a vibrated box of sand, and discuss its dynamics in terms of two parameters reflecting static and dynamic disorder respectively. The fluidised, intermediate and frozen (`glassy') dynamical regimes are extensively probed by analysing the response of the packing fraction to steady, as well as cyclic, shaking, and indicators of the onset of a `glass transition' are analysed. In the `glassy' regime, our model is exactly solvable, and allows for the qualitative description of ageing phenomena in terms of two characteristic lengths; predictions are also made about the influence of grain shape anisotropy on ageing behaviour.

PACS: 87.10.+e, 87.23.Kg

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