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Destabilizing a Buoyant Multilayer Granular Raft by Heavy Grains: The Role of Inertia.

Mohammad Javad Sayyari1, Joshua B Bostwick1

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Researchers studied how buoyant granular rafts resist sinking under heavy loads. They found the critical number of particles to destabilize a raft depends on particle properties and loading speed, with a new model predicting this behavior.

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Area of Science:

  • Oceanography
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Buoyant multilayer granular rafts are observed in oceanography at various scales, from microplastics to Arctic ice mélange.
  • These rafts possess the ability to support loads that would typically sink.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the load-carrying capacity of buoyant multilayer granular rafts under dynamic deformation.
  • To quantify the critical number of heavy particles (Nc) needed to destabilize such rafts.
  • To analyze the influence of particle properties, liquid properties, and heavy particle inertia on raft stability.

Main Methods:

  • Experiments were conducted using two distinct loading protocols: quasi-static and inertial jet.
  • The critical number of heavy particles (Nc) required for destabilization was quantified.
  • A mathematical model was developed to predict Nc based on experimental observations.

Main Results:

  • Destabilization occurs when the particle cluster width reaches a maximum, aligning with a bifurcation diagram's turning point.
  • The critical width for destabilization was significantly larger in the quasi-static loading case compared to the inertial jet case.
  • The developed mathematical model accurately predicts Nc, showing good agreement with experimental data and prior literature across seven orders of magnitude.

Conclusions:

  • The study elucidates the mechanics of buoyant granular raft destabilization under varying dynamic loads.
  • A predictive model for raft stability was established, validated by extensive experimental and literature data.
  • Findings have implications for understanding phenomena ranging from microplastic transport to ice dynamics.