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A dilation-driven vortex flow in sheared granular materials explains a rheometric anomaly

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  • K. P. Krishnaraj

    (Indian Institute of Science)

  • Prabhu R. Nott

    (Indian Institute of Science)

Abstract

Granular flows occur widely in nature and industry, yet a continuum description that captures their important features is yet not at hand. Recent experiments on granular materials sheared in a cylindrical Couette device revealed a puzzling anomaly, wherein all components of the stress rise nearly exponentially with depth. Here we show, using particle dynamics simulations and imaging experiments, that the stress anomaly arises from a remarkable vortex flow. For the entire range of fill heights explored, we observe a single toroidal vortex that spans the entire Couette cell and whose sense is opposite to the uppermost Taylor vortex in a fluid. We show that the vortex is driven by a combination of shear-induced dilation, a phenomenon that has no analogue in fluids, and gravity flow. Dilatancy is an important feature of granular mechanics, but not adequately incorporated in existing models.

Suggested Citation

  • K. P. Krishnaraj & Prabhu R. Nott, 2016. "A dilation-driven vortex flow in sheared granular materials explains a rheometric anomaly," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms10630
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10630
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