Eur. Phys. J. E (2017) 40: 88
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2017-11578-4

Regular Article

Memory effect and anisotropy of particle arrangements in granular paste

¹ Research Group of Physics, Division of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Nara Women’s University, 630-8506, Nara, Japan
² Faculty of Health and Well-being, Kansai University, 590-8515, Sakai, Japan
³ Department of Mathematical Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 599-8531, Sakai, Japan
⁴ Laboratory of Physics, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, 274-8501, Funabashi, Japan

^* e-mail: kitsune@ki-rin.phys.nara-wu.ac.jp

Received: 1 May 2017
Accepted: 29 September 2017
Published online: 12 October 2017

Abstract

It is known that pastes of fine powder, for example those of clay, retain memory of shaking applied early in a drying process. This memory results in the appearance of anisotropic patterns of desiccation cracks after drying. In this work, we find a similar behavior in pastes consisting of large granular particles, specifically cornstarch and Lycopodium spores. Because of the large particle size, we were able to observe particle arrangements in Lycopodium paste with micro-focus X-ray computerized tomography ( CT). We prepared pastes consisting of Lycopodium particles and water. Agar was added to the paste in order to allow for solidification during a drying process. In these samples, we found statistical anisotropy induced by shaking applied early in the drying process. This anisotropy possesses a feature that was predicted on the basis of results obtained in previous experimental and theoretical studies.