https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/e2007-00017-x
Topical Issue on Dygram 2006
On the existence of stationary states during granular compaction
1
Groupe Matière Condensée et Matériaux, UMR CNRS 6626, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France
2
Cemagref, Aix-en-Provence, Le Tholonet BP 31, 13612, Aix-en-Provence Cedex 1, France
* e-mail: patrick.richard@univ-rennes1.fr
Received:
28
November
2006
Published online:
7
March
2007
When submitted to gentle mechanical taps a granular packing slowly compacts until it reaches a stationary state that depends on the tap characteristics. The properties of such stationary states are experimentally investigated. The influence of the initial state, taps properties and tapping protocol are studied. The compactivity of the packings is determinated. Our results strongly support the idea that the stationary states are genuine thermodynamic states.
PACS: 45.70.-n Granular systems – / 45.70.Cc Static sandpiles; granular compaction – / 81.05.Rm Porous materials; granular materials –
© EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag, 2007