Avalanches in Granular Materials: Mean Field Theory
Analytical derivation of hysteresis behavior and stability analysis of
granular assemblies in rotating drums. Predicted a logarithmic divergence
in avalanche lifetimes close to the transition to continuous granular flow
(currently under experimental investigation).
- V. Benza, F. Nori, and O. Pla,
Phys. Rev. E. 48, 4095 (1993); and in preparation.
Dynamics and Avalanches in Granular
Materials: Experiments
First avalanche imaging study: obtained evidence of scaling behavior
when a granular assembly is slowly driven to the threshold of instability.
Characterized the dynamics of the precursor avalanches prior to large slides.
- M. Bretz, J. Cunningham, P. Kurczynski, and F. Nori,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 69, 2471 (1992).
This work was featured in Science News 142, 231 (1992).
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