112 research outputs found
Jamming phase diagram for frictional particles
The non-equilibrium transition from a fluid-like state to a disordered
solid-like state, known as the jamming transition, occurs in a wide variety of
physical systems, such as colloidal suspensions and molecular fluids, when the
temperature is lowered or the density increased. Shear stress, as temperature,
favors the fluid-like state, and must be also considered to define the system
'jamming phase diagram' [1-4]. Frictionless athermal systems [1], for instance,
can be described by the zero temperature plane of the jamming diagram in the
temperature, density, stress space. Here we consider the jamming of athermal
frictional systems [8-13] such as granular materials, which are important to a
number of applications from geophysics to industry. At constant volume and
applied shear stress[1, 2], we show that while in absence of friction a system
is either fluid-like or jammed, in the presence of friction a new region in the
density shear-stress plane appears, where new dynamical regimes are found. In
this region a system may slip, or even flow with a steady velocity for a long
time in response to an applied stress, but then eventually jams. Jamming in
non-thermal frictional systems is described here by a phase diagram in the
density, shear-stress and friction space
Statistical mechanics for static granular media: open questions
International audienceThe theoretical description of granular materials, or assemblies of macroscopic particles, is a formidable task. Not only are granular materials out of thermal equilibrium, but they are also characterized by dissipative interactions and by static friction. Following a suggestion by S.~F. Edwards, researchers have investigated the possible existence of a statistical mechanics of static granular systems, which would permit the description of macroscopic properties of mechanically stable granular assemblies from just a few parameters. The formulation and the validity of such an approach is still a matter of debate. This ''emerging area'' focuses on three important questions concerning such a statistical mechanics approach. First, we consider how the phase space of interest is affected by the requirement of mechanical stability. Second, we explore how the intensive parameters analogous to temperature can be determined from experimental or numerical data. Finally, we contrast different ways to express the granular counterpart to the classical Hamiltonian, known as the volume function
On the existence of stationary states during granular compaction
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.Comment: to be published in EPJE. The original publication will be available
at www.europhysj.or
Infections are a very dangerous affair: Enterobiasis and death
Background: Enterobiasis or oxyuriasis from Enterobius vermicularis is an infection usually localized in the large bowel and cecum. Generally, the symptoms are characterized by anal itching, and intestinal or nervous disorders. Rarely, it is responsible for death. Methods: A forensic autopsy of a 52-year-old white male inmate who died 5 days after hospitalization was performed. Histological and toxicological analyses were also performed. Results: The death occurred by localization of Enterobius vermicularis in the duodenum and in the proximal ileum, with intestinal haemorrhage, inflammation, and peritonitis documented by histological examination. Conclusion: This is a common infectious disease, and can rarely occur with a fatal outcome, even in advanced populations. The lack of knowledge related to the rarity of death from enterobiasis disease can determine a dangerous concern
High intensity tapping regime in a frustrated lattice gas model of granular compaction
In the frame of a well established lattice gas model for granular compaction,
we investigate the high intensity tapping regime where a pile expands
significantly during external excitation. We find that this model shows the
same general trends as more sophisticated models based on molecular dynamic
type simulations. In particular, a minimum in packing fraction as a function of
tapping strength is observed in the reversible branch of an annealed tapping
protocol.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Glassy states in lattice models with many coexisting crystalline phases
We study the emergence of glassy states after a sudden cooling in lattice
models with short range interactions and without any a priori quenched
disorder. The glassy state emerges whenever the equilibrium model possesses a
sufficient number of coexisting crystalline phases at low temperatures,
provided the thermodynamic limit be taken before the infinite time limit. This
result is obtained through simulations of the time relaxation of the standard
Potts model and some exclusion models equipped with a local stochastic dynamics
on a square lattice.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
A hard-sphere model on generalized Bethe lattices: Statics
We analyze the phase diagram of a model of hard spheres of chemical radius
one, which is defined over a generalized Bethe lattice containing short loops.
We find a liquid, two different crystalline, a glassy and an unusual
crystalline glassy phase. Special attention is also paid to the close-packing
limit in the glassy phase. All analytical results are cross-checked by
numerical Monte-Carlo simulations.Comment: 24 pages, revised versio
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