Phase Transitions and Pattern Formation in Vibrated Granular Media
Michael Swift
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, UK
Date and time:
Thursday, April 21, 2011 - 4:15pm
Abstract:
Granular materials exhibit a wealth of interesting dynamical phenomena, particularly if they are subjected to vibration. I shall describe a range of such phenomena including clustering and the Brazil nut effect, fluid-driven stripe formation and a novel 'liquid-gas' phase separation. I will also discuss numerical methods that have been developed to simulate these systems and used to gain insight into the segregation and pattern forming mechanisms.