Eur. Phys. J. E (2015) 38: 15
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2015-15015-6

Regular Article

Applying GSH to a wide range of experiments in granular media

¹ Central South University, 410083, Changsha, China
² Theoretische Physik, Universität Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

^* e-mail: mliu@uni-tuebingen.de

Received: 18 April 2014
Revised: 28 June 2014
Accepted: 3 February 2015
Published online: 9 March 2015

Abstract

Granular solid hydrodynamics (GSH) is a continuum-mechanical theory for granular media, whose wide range of applicability is shown in this paper. Simple, frequently analytic solutions are related to classic observations at different shear rates, including: i) static stress distribution, clogging; ii) elasto-plastic motion: loading and unloading, approach to the critical state, angle of stability and repose; iii) rapid dense flow: the μ-rheology, Bagnold scaling and the stress minimum; iv) elastic waves, compaction, wide and narrow shear band. Less conventional experiments have also been considered: shear jamming, creep flow, visco-elastic behavior and non-local fluidization. With all these phenomena ordered, related, explained and accounted for, though frequently qualitatively, we believe that GSH may be taken as a unifying framework, providing the appropriate macroscopic vocabulary and mindset that help one coming to terms with the breadth of granular physics.