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Updated: Nov 19, 2025

The Diffusion of Passive Tracers in Laminar Shear Flow
Published on: May 1, 2018
Self-diffusion scalings in dense granular flows
Riccardo Artoni1, Michele Larcher2, James T Jenkins3
1MAST-GPEM, Univ Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, F-44344 Bouguenais, France. riccardo.artoni@univ-eiffel.fr.
This study measures self-diffusion in dense granular flows, finding it depends on shear rate and particle friction. Results differ from kinetic theory predictions, highlighting the need for refined models in granular material science.
Area of Science:
- Physics of granular materials
- Computational physics
Background:
- Collisional shearing flows are crucial in granular materials.
- High solid volume fractions are common in terrestrial flows.
- Self-diffusion in these regimes is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure self-diffusion coefficients in dense granular shearing flows.
- To compare simulation results with existing empirical and theoretical models.
- To investigate anisotropy and solid fraction dependence of diffusion.
Main Methods:
- Discrete numerical simulations of frictional, inelastic spheres.
- Focus on steady, homogeneous, collisional shearing flows.
- Analysis of high solid volume fraction regimes.
Main Results:
- Self-diffusion coefficients were measured.
- Anisotropy and solid fraction dependence were observed.
- Significant deviations from kinetic theory predictions were found.
Conclusions:
- Existing empirical scaling requires refinement for anisotropy and solid fraction.
- Kinetic theory for shearing flows needs improvement for dense granular systems.
- Numerical simulations provide valuable data for understanding granular diffusion.
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