A nonlinear hydrodynamical approach to granular materials

Abstract

We propose a nonlinear hydrodynamical model of granular materials. We show how this model describes the formation of a sand pile from a homogeneous distribution of material under gravity, and then discuss a simulation of a rotating sandpile which shows, in qualitative agreement with experiment, a static and dynamic angle of repose.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, RevTeX4; minor changes to wording and some additional discussion. Accepted by Phys. Rev.