Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026
11:03
An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
9.1K
Unifying Impacts in Granular Matter from Quicksand to Cornstarch
J John Soundar Jerome1,2, Nicolas Vandenberghe2, Yoël Forterre1
1Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IUSTI, 13013 Marseille, France.
Physical Review Letters
|September 10, 2016
Summary
Impacts on granular suspensions show a sharp transition between liquefaction and solidification based on initial packing. This is controlled by granular dilatancy and fluid pressure, explaining diverse responses in particulate media like quicksand and cornstarch.
Area of Science:
- Physics of granular materials
- Fluid dynamics
- Rheology of suspensions
Background:
- Granular suspensions exhibit complex behaviors under impact.
- Understanding the transition between liquefaction and solidification is crucial for predicting material response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism controlling the sharp transition between liquefaction and transient solidification in granular suspensions during impact.
- To identify the key physical parameters governing this transition.
Main Methods:
- High-speed pressure measurements were employed to capture dynamic changes during impact.
- A two-phase modeling approach was utilized to simulate the impact event and analyze fluid-particle interactions.
Main Results:
- A distinct transition between liquefaction and solidification was observed, dependent on the initial packing fraction.
- The transition is governed by the interplay between granular pile dilatancy and impact-induced interstitial fluid pressure.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a generic mechanism for diverse impact responses in particulate media.
- This mechanism unifies explanations for phenomena ranging from dry quicksand to impact hardening in shear-thickening fluids like cornstarch.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:22Colloids
21.9K
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
21.9K
01:29The Colloidal State
75
The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called...
75
01:18Porosity in Cement Paste
533
The porosity of concrete is a measure of the void spaces within its structure. These spaces impact its strength and durability significantly. When water and cement interact, a chemical reaction called hydration creates a semi-solid paste. This paste includes combined water, making up approximately 23% of the cement's dry mass, and gel water, which fills minuscule voids known as gel pores, accounting for about 28% of the cement gel volume.
The balance of water to cement in the mix is...
The balance of water to cement in the mix is...
533
01:26Unsoundness of Aggregate due to Volume Change
424
Unsoundness in aggregates due to volume changes is primarily caused by the physical alterations aggregates undergo, such as freezing and thawing, thermal changes, and wetting and drying. Unsound aggregates, when subjected to these changes, result in volume change upon disintegration. This, in turn, contributes to the deterioration of concrete, including scaling, pop-outs, and cracking. Particular types of aggregates, such as porous flints, cherts, and those containing clay minerals, are...
424
01:23Factors Affecting Dissolution: Particle Size and Effective Surface Area
1.9K
Dissolution kinetics, an essential aspect of oral drug delivery, is significantly influenced by the drug's particle size. According to the Noyes-Whitney dissolution model, the dissolution rate correlates directly with the drug's surface area. The larger the surface area, the higher the drug's solubility in water, leading to a faster drug dissolution rate. Reducing particle size increases the effective surface area, enhancing the dissolution process. Micronization and nanosizing are...
1.9K
01:17Colloids and Suspensions
3.8K
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles visible to the naked eye or seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. The suspended particles in a suspension settle out after some time of mixing. The separation of particles from a suspension is...
3.8K