Avalanche mixing and the simultaneous collapse of two media under uniaxial stress

Phys Rev E. 2019 Feb;99(2-1):023002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.99.023002.

Abstract

Avalanches in coal and sandstone samples under common uniaxial stress serve as a model for mixing of avalanche exponents in ceramics, multiferroics, and alloys. The two media are sandwiched together and subjected to common uniaxial stress using high- and low-stress compression. Each medium collapses individually through avalanches that often coincide with secondary avalanches into the other medium. The total avalanche time sequence allows a detailed investigation of the mixing by superposition and delayed coincidence. Correlations can be described by an inter-media Båth's law.