Effect of inelasticity on the phase transitions of a thin vibrated granular layer

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2008 Nov;78(5 Pt 1):051301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.78.051301. Epub 2008 Nov 4.

Abstract

We describe an experimental and computational investigation of the ordered and disordered phases of a vibrating thin, dense granular layer composed of identical metal spheres. We compare the results from spheres with different amounts of inelasticity and show that inelasticity has a strong effect on the phase diagram. We also report the melting of an ordered phase to a homogeneous disordered liquid phase at high vibration amplitude or at large inelasticities. Our results show that dissipation has a strong effect on ordering and that in this system ordered phases are absent entirely in highly inelastic materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.