Reverse Brazil nut problem: competition between percolation and condensation

Trajectories of a magnetic sphere in a shaken three-dimensional granular bed under low gravity

This present investigation employs an advanced magnetic particle tracking method to trace the trajectories of an intruder within a vibration-driven granular medium under artificial low-gravity conditions. The experiments are carried out within the centrifuge of the Chinese Space Station, encompassing six distinct low-gravity environments. Trajectories under various vibration modes are captured and analysed for each gravity level. This paper offers an exhaustive account of data collection and algorithms used for data processing, ensuring the dependability and precision of the datasets obtained. Additionally, we make the raw magnetic field data, processing scripts, and visualization tools accessible to the public. This research contributes a comprehensive dataset that is instrumental in exploring the mechanisms of granular segregation under low gravity and aids in the verification of novel physical models for understanding intruder dynamics in granular systems under such conditions.

Advances in Powder-Filled Mold Processes: A Comprehensive Review and Outlook

Powder molding technology is a versatile process widely used in the pharmaceutical, ceramic, chemical, food, and powder metallurgy industries. The powder-filling mold process is a key link in powder compression molding, and the uniformity and consistency of powder filling directly affect the final quality of powder products. Powder filling of molds is a more complex flow process. This paper first reviews the methods used to test powder flow characteristics and comments on their applicability to the mold-filling process, provides an in-depth discussion of four different filling techniques, focusing on the flow behavior of the powder during the filling process, and analyzes the effects of powder characteristics and process parameters on the filling effect. By reviewing the latest advances and identifying the key challenges, a valuable reference is provided for the mold-filling process.

How particle shape affects granular segregation in industrial and geophysical flows

Industrial and environmental granular flows commonly exhibit a phenomenon known as "granular segregation," in which grains separate according to physical characteristics (size, shape, density), interfering with industrial applications (cement mixing, medicine, and food production) and fundamentally altering the behavior of geophysical flows (landslides, debris flows, pyroclastic flows, riverbeds). While size-induced segregation has been well studied, the role of grain shape has not. Here we conduct numerical experiments to investigate how grain shape affects granular segregation in dry and wet flows. To isolate the former, we compare dry, bidisperse mixtures of spheres alone with mixtures of spheres and cubes in a rotating drum. Results show that while segregation level generally increases with particle size ratio, the presence of cubes decreases segregation levels compared to cases with only spheres. Further, we find differences in the segregation level depending on which shape makes up each size class, reflecting differences in mobility when smaller grains are cubic or spherical. We find similar dynamics in simulations of a shear-driven coupled fluid-granular flow (e.g., a simulated riverbed), demonstrating that this phenomenon is not unique to rotating drums; however, in contrast to the dry system, we find that the segregation level increases in the presence of cubic grains, and fluid drag effects can qualitatively change segregation trends. Our findings demonstrate competing shape-induced segregation patterns in wet and dry flows that are independent from grain size controls, with implications for many industrial and geophysical processes.

Shape matters: Competing mechanisms of particle shape segregation

It is well known that granular mixtures that differ in size or shape segregate when sheared. In the past, two mechanisms have been proposed to describe this effect, and it is unclear if both exist. To settle this question, we consider a bidisperse mixture of spheroids of equal volume in a rotating drum, where the two mechanisms are predicted to act in opposite directions. We present evidence that there are two distinct segregation mechanisms driven by relative overstress. Additionally, we showed that, for nonspherical particles, these two mechanisms (kinetic and gravity) can act in different directions leading to a competition between the effects of the two. As a result, the segregation intensity varies nonmonotonically as a function of aspect ratio (AR), and, at specific points, the segregation direction changes for both prolate and oblate spheroids, explaining the surprising segregation reversal previously reported. Consistent with previous results, we found that the kinetic mechanism is dominant for (almost) spherical particles. Furthermore, for moderate aspect ratios, the kinetic mechanism is responsible for the spherical particles' segregation to the periphery of the drum, and the gravity mechanism plays only a minor role. Whereas, at the extreme values of AR, the gravity mechanism notably increases and overtakes its kinetic counterpart.

Size segregation of disk particle in two-dimensional chute

Size segregation will lead to stratification of a particle system. At present, people have not fully understood the segregation mechanism. In this work, we have studied the size segregation behavior of two-component disk particles in chute flows. The effects of particle size ratio η, particle density ρ, static friction coefficient μ and chute angle α on size segregation are discussed. We use the discrete element method to simulate and calculate the force of disk large particles during segregation. Results show that the 'squeeze expulsion' mechanism plays a key role in the size segregation of a disk particle flow. We establish a physical model of 'squeeze expulsion' of disk particles and obtain the conditions for the formation of 'squeeze expulsion' mechanism.

Large-deviation quantification of boundary conditions on the Brazil nut effect

We present a discrete element method study of the uprising of an intruder immersed in a granular media under vibration, also known as the Brazil Nut Effect. Besides confirming granular ratcheting and convection as leading mechanisms to this odd behavior, we evince the role of the resonance on the rising of the intruder by using periodic boundary conditions (pbc) in the horizontal direction to avoid wall-induced convection. As a result, we obtain a resonance-qualitylike curve of the intruder ascent rate as a function of the external frequency, which is verified for different values of the inverse normalized gravity Γ, as well as the system size. In addition, we introduce a large deviation function analysis which displays a remarkable difference for systems with walls or pbc.

Accurate buoyancy and drag force models to predict particle segregation in vibrofluidized beds

The segregation of large intruders in an agitated granular system is of high practical relevance, yet the accurate modeling of the segregation (lift) force is challenging as a general formulation of a granular equivalent of a buoyancy force remains elusive. Here, we critically assess the validity of a granular buoyancy model using a generalization of the Archimedean formulation that has been proposed very recently for chute flows. The first model system studied is a convection-free vibrated system, allowing us to calculate the buoyancy force through three different approaches, i.e., a generalization of the Archimedean formulation, the spring force of a virtual spring, and through the granular pressure field. The buoyancy forces obtained through these three approaches agree very well, providing strong evidence for the validity of the generalization of the Archimedean formulation of the buoyancy force which only requires an expression for the solid fraction of the intruder, hence allowing for a computationally less demanding calculation of the buoyancy force as coarse graining is avoided. In a second step, convection is introduced as a further complication to the granular system. In such a system, the lift force is composed of granular buoyancy and a drag force. Using a drag model for the slow-velocity regime, the lift force, directly measured through a virtual spring, can be predicted accurately by adding a granular drag force to the generalization of the Archimedean formulation of the granular buoyancy. The developed lift force model allows us to rationalize the dependence of the lift force on the density of the bed particles and the intruder diameter, the independence of the lift force on the intruder diameter, and the independence of the lift force on the intruder density and the vibration strength (once a critical value is exceeded).

Size segregation of irregular granular materials captured by time-resolved 3D imaging

When opening a box of mixed nuts, a common experience is to find the largest nuts at the top. This well-known effect is the result of size-segregation where differently sized ‘particles’ sort themselves into distinct layers when shaken, vibrated or sheared. Colloquially this is known as the ‘Brazil-nut effect’. While there have been many studies into the phenomena, difficulties observing granular materials mean that we still know relatively little about the process by which irregular larger particles (the Brazil nuts) reach the top. Here, for the first time, we capture the complex dynamics of Brazil nut motion within a sheared nut mixture through time-lapse X-ray Computed Tomography (CT). We have found that the Brazil nuts do not start to rise until they have first rotated sufficiently towards the vertical axis and then ultimately return to a flat orientation when they reach the surface. We also consider why certain Brazil nuts do not rise through the pack. This study highlights the important role of particle shape and orientation in segregation. Further, this ability to track the motion in 3D will pave the way for new experimental studies of segregating mixtures and will open the door to even more realistic simulations and powerful predictive models. Understanding the effect of size and shape on segregation has implications far beyond food products including various anti-mixing behaviors critical to many industries such as pharmaceuticals and mining.

Microscopic structure and dynamics study of granular segregation mechanism by cyclic shear

Granular mixtures with size difference can segregate upon shaking or shear. However, the quantitative study of this process remains difficult because it can be influenced by many mechanisms. Conflicting results on similar experimental systems are frequently obtained when the experimental conditions are not well controlled, which is mainly due to the fact that many mechanisms can be at work simultaneously. Moreover, it is often that macroscopic or empirical measures, which lack microscopic physical bases, are used to explain the experimental findings and therefore cannot provide an accurate and complete depiction of the overall process. Here, we carry out a detailed and systematic microscopic structure and dynamics study of a cyclically sheared granular system with rigorously controlled experimental conditions. We find that both convection and arching effect play important roles in the segregation process in our system, and we can quantitatively identify their respective contributions.

A modified calculation of particle buoyant forces in vibro-fluidized beds

Segregation of granular materials under vibration or flow conditions such as the Brazil nut effect has been well known, however, there is yet no consensus mechanisms to explain this phenomenon. This study attempts to investigate particle buoyant forces in the segregation process. To explain the difference of the segregation behavior for the large particle with different size, a modified calculation method of particle buoyant force is suggested for considering the effect of particle size ratio. A simple verification illustrates its validity.

Motion behaviour of ellipsoidal granular system under vertical vibration and airflow

We studied the motion behaviour of ellipsoid particles under vertical vibration and airflow. Three typical convection patterns were observed when submitted to vertical vibration with frequency (f) from 20 Hz to 80 Hz and dimensionless vibration acceleration (Γ) from one to six. We studied the effects of f and Γ on the change of convection patterns. We quantitatively studied the effects of f, Γ, airflow direction, airflow velocity, and particle shape on the convection area and intensity using the area fraction λ and average velocity vz characterizing the convection area and intensity, respectively. Results showed that the convection first occured occurred in the upper part of the granular system. Increasing f and A can both increase the convection area and strengthen the convection intensity. A had a greater influence than f at the same Γ. The wheat particles were more likely to enter the global convection state under the action of the airflow in the opposite direction of gravity. The maximum convection intensity of wheat particles under the airflow in the opposite direction of gravity was approximately 30-35% of the value measured under the airflow along the direction of gravity. The convection area and maximum convection intensity of the spherical particles were approximately 85% and 93% of the measured values for the ellipsoidal particles, respectively. We also analysed the effects of f, Γ, airflow direction, airflow velocity, and particle shape on the convection area on the basis of energy dissipation.

The Separation of Aluminum and Stainless-Steel Scraps Using Vibrating Mixed-Size Ball Bed

Dry gravity separation using a vibrating zirconia ball bed is proposed in this study to separate aluminum (Al) and stainless steel (STS) scraps obtained from spent hard disk drive recycling. The effects of zirconia ball sizes and vibrating power (vibration amplitude) on the separation efficiency of Al and STS scraps were investigated. The zirconia balls moved down at the center of the vessel and rose with the wall during the vibration test. Although more STS scraps sunk than Al scraps did, the separation efficiency was not maintained because Al scraps also sunk along with balls’ movement. The separation efficiency increased to 86.6% using 1-mm zirconia balls with a 2.5-mm vibration amplitude at 4 min, but it decreased rapidly by ball moving. Therefore, when a ball bed of mixed sizes (2:1 ratio of 1 and 3 mm) was used and arranged, whereby the 3-mm zirconia balls were above the 1-mm ball bed, the separation efficiency increased to 100% for more than 2 min. This dramatic improvement was because the 3-mm ball bed acted as a barrier to prevent sunken STS scraps from rising, and Al scrap cannot sink through the 3-mm ball bed. These results indicate that the separation of Al and STS scraps could be achieved successfully using the dry gravity separation method.

Powder Filling and Sintering of 3D In-chip Solenoid Coils with High Aspect Ratio Structure

In this study, a 3D coil embedded in a silicon substrate including densely distributed through-silicon vias (TSVs) was fabricated via a rapid metal powder sintering process. The filling and sintering methods for microdevices were evaluated, and the effects of powder types were compared. The parameters influencing the properties and processing speed were analyzed. The results showed that the pre-alloyed powder exhibited the best uniformity and stability when the experiment used two or more types of powders to avoid the segregation effect. The smaller the particle diameter, the better the inductive performance will be. The entire structure can be sintered near the melting point of the alloy, and increasing the temperature increases strength, while resulting in low resistivity. Finally, an 800-µm-high coil was fabricated. This process does not need surface metallization and seed layer formation. The forming process involves only sintering instead of slowly growing copper with a tiny current. Therefore, this process has advantages, such as a process time of 7 h, corresponding to an 84% reduction compared to current electroplating processes (45 h), and a 543% efficiency improvement. Thus, this process is more efficient, controllable, stable, and suitable for mass production of devices with flexible dimensions.

Cohesion-driven mixing and segregation of dry granular media

Granular segregation is a common, yet still puzzling, phenomenon encountered in many natural and engineering processes. Here, we experimentally investigate the effect of particles cohesion on segregation in dry monodisperse and bidisperse systems using a rotating drum mixer. Chemical silanization, glass surface functionalization via a Silane coupling agent, is used to produce cohesive dry glass particles. The cohesive force between the particles is controlled by varying the reaction duration of the silanization process, and is measured using an in-house device specifically designed for this study. The effects of the cohesive force on flow and segregation are then explored and discussed. For monosized particulate systems, while cohesionless particles perfectly mix when tumbled, highly cohesive particles segregate. For bidisperse mixtures of particles, an adequate cohesion-tuning reduces segregation and enhances mixing. Based on these results, a simple scheme is proposed to describe the system’s mixing behaviour with important implications for the control of segregation or mixing in particulate industrial processes.

Colloidal Brazil nut effect in microswimmer mixtures induced by motility contrast

We numerically and experimentally study the segregation dynamics in a binary mixture of microswimmers which move on a two-dimensional substrate in a static periodic triangular-like light intensity field. The motility of the active particles is proportional to the imposed light intensity, and they possess a motility contrast, i.e., the prefactor depends on the species. In addition, the active particles also experience a torque aligning their motion towards the direction of the negative intensity gradient. We find a segregation of active particles near the intensity minima where typically one species is localized close to the minimum and the other one is centered around in an outer shell. For a very strong aligning torque, there is an exact mapping onto an equilibrium system in an effective external potential that is minimal at the intensity minima. This external potential is similar to (height-dependent) gravity such that one can define effective "heaviness" of the self-propelled particles. In analogy to shaken granular matter in gravity, we define a "colloidal Brazil nut effect" if the heavier particles are floating on top of the lighter ones. Using extensive Brownian dynamics simulations, we identify system parameters for the active colloidal Brazil nut effect to occur and explain it based on a generalized Archimedes' principle within the effective equilibrium model: heavy particles are levitated in a dense fluid of lighter particles if their effective mass density is lower than that of the surrounding fluid. We also perform real-space experiments on light-activated self-propelled colloidal mixtures which confirm the theoretical predictions.

Dynamics of bidensity particle suspensions in a horizontal rotating cylinder

We report Stokesian dynamics simulations of bidensity suspensions rotating in a horizontal cylinder. We studied the phase space and radial and axial patterns in settling as well as floating systems. Each system was composed of particle mixtures of two different densities. As many as eight unique phases are identified for each system along the radial plane. The bidensity system shows similarity to the monodisperse case only when the radial distribution of the particles is completely uniform. Characteristic behavior of the bidensity systems is identical at low rotation rates and contrasting when centrifugal force dominates. Expressing the phase boundaries in terms of dimensionless parameters U_{s}/(ΩR) and g/(Ω^{2}R) gives a linear fit unifying the data in the gravity-dominated regime. At high rotation rates, the behavior is opposing for either system though linear in nature. In the axial direction, number density profiles of both systems affirm the phenomenon of band formation. Location of the axial bands remains the same for heavy and light particles in both systems. We have also reestablished that an inhomogeneous particle configuration in the radial plane induces growing instabilities in the axial plane which amplify to form particle bands similar to monodisperse suspensions.

Interplay between polydispersity, inelasticity, and roughness in the freely cooling regime of hard-disk granular gases

A polydisperse granular gas made of inelastic and rough hard disks is considered. Focus is laid on the kinetic-theory derivation of the partial energy production rates and the total cooling rate as functions of the partial densities and temperatures (both translational and rotational) and of the parameters of the mixture (masses, diameters, moments of inertia, and mutual coefficients of normal and tangential restitution). The results are applied to the homogeneous cooling state of the system and the associated nonequipartition of energy among the different components and degrees of freedom. It is found that disks typically present a stronger rotational-translational nonequipartition but a weaker component-component nonequipartition than spheres. A noteworthy "mimicry" effect is unveiled, according to which a polydisperse gas of disks having common values of the coefficient of restitution and of the reduced moment of inertia can be made indistinguishable from a monodisperse gas in what concerns the degree of rotational-translational energy nonequipartition. This effect requires the mass of a disk of component i to be approximately proportional to 2σ_{i}+〈σ〉, where σ_{i} is the diameter of the disk and 〈σ〉 is the mean diameter.

Simultaneous Control of Multispecies Particle Transport and Segregation in Driven Lattices

We provide a generic scheme to separate the particles of a mixture by their physical properties like mass, friction, or size. The scheme employs a periodically shaken two-dimensional dissipative lattice and hinges on a simultaneous transport of particles in species-specific directions. This selective transport is achieved by controlling the late-time nonlinear particle dynamics, via the attractors embedded in the phase space and their bifurcations. To illustrate the spectrum of possible applications of the scheme, we exemplarily demonstrate the separation of polydisperse colloids and mixtures of cold thermal alkali atoms in optical lattices.

Evidence of reverse and intermediate size segregation in dry granular flows down a rough incline

In a dry granular flow, size segregation had been shown to behave differently for a mixture containing a few large particles with a size ratio above 5 [N. Thomas, Phys. Rev. E 62, 961 (2000)1063-651X10.1103/PhysRevE.62.961]. For moderately large size ratios, large particles migrate to an intermediate depth in the bed: this is called "intermediate segregation." For the largest size ratios, large particles migrate down to the bottom of the flow: this is called "reverse segregation," in contrast with surface segregation. As the reversal and intermediate depth values depend on the fraction of particles, this numerical study mainly uses one single large tracer. Small fractions of large beads are also computed showing the link between single tracer behavior and collective segregation process. For each device (half-filled rotating tumbler and rough plane), two (2D) and three (3D) dimensional cases are distinguished. In the tumbler, the trajectories of a large tracer show that it reaches a constant depth during the flowing phase. For large size ratios, this depth is intermediate. A progressive sinking of the depth is obtained when the size ratio is increased. The largest size ratios correspond to tracers being at the bottom of the flowing layer. All 3D simulation results are in quantitative agreement with the experimental surface, intermediate, and reverse-segregation results. In the flow down a rough incline, a large tracer reaches an equilibrium depth during flow. For large size ratios, the depth is inside the bed, at an intermediate position, and for the largest size ratios, this depth is reverse, located near the bottom. Results are slightly different for a thin or a thick flow. For 3D thick flows, the reversal between surface and bottom positions occurs within a short range of size ratios: no tracer stabilizes near half-height and two reachable intermediate depth layers exist, below the surface and above the bottom reverse layer. For 3D thin flows, all intermediate depths are reachable by a tracer, depending on the size ratio. The numerical study of larger fractions of tracers (5% or 10%) shows the three segregation patterns (surface, intermediate, reverse) corresponding to the three types of equilibrium depth. The reversal is smoother than for a single tracer, and happens around the size ratio 4.5, in good agreement with experiments.

Phase-coexisting patterns, horizontal segregation, and controlled convection in vertically vibrated binary granular mixtures

We report patterns consisting of coexistence of synchronous and asynchronous states [for example, a granular gas co-existing with (i) bouncing bed, (ii) undulatory subharmonic waves, and (iii) Leidenfrost-like states] in experiments on vertically vibrated binary granular mixtures in a Hele-Shaw cell. Most experiments have been carried out with equimolar binary mixtures of glass and steel balls of same diameter by varying the total layer height (F) for a range of shaking acceleration (Γ). All patterns as well as the related phase diagram in the (Γ,F) plane have been reproduced via molecular dynamics simulations of the same system. The segregation of heavier and lighter particles along the horizontal direction is shown to be the progenitor of such phase-coexisting patterns as confirmed in both experiment and simulation. At strong shaking we uncover a partial convection state in which a pair of convection rolls is found to coexist with a Leidenfrost-like state. The crucial role of the relative number density of two species on controlling the buoyancy-driven granular convection is demonstrated. The onset of horizontal segregation can be explained in terms of an anisotropic diffusion tensor.

Micromechanical Origin of Particle Size Segregation

We computationally study the micromechanics of shear-induced size segregation and propose distinct migration mechanisms for individual large and small particles. While small particles percolate through voids without enduring contacts, large particles climb under shear through their crowded neighborhoods with anisotropic contact network. Particle rotation associated with shear is necessary for the upward migration of large particles. Segregation of large particles can be suppressed with inadequate friction, or with no rotation; increasing interparticle friction promotes the migration of large particles, but has little effect on the percolation of small particles.

The effect of bean origin and temperature on grinding roasted coffee

Coffee is prepared by the extraction of a complex array of organic molecules from the roasted bean, which has been ground into fine particulates. The extraction depends on temperature, water chemistry and also the accessible surface area of the coffee. Here we investigate whether variations in the production processes of single origin coffee beans affects the particle size distribution upon grinding. We find that the particle size distribution is independent of the bean origin and processing method. Furthermore, we elucidate the influence of bean temperature on particle size distribution, concluding that grinding cold results in a narrower particle size distribution, and reduced mean particle size. We anticipate these results will influence the production of coffee industrially, as well as contribute to how we store and use coffee daily.

Graphene Induces Formation of Pores That Kill Spherical and Rod-Shaped Bacteria

Pristine graphene, its derivatives, and composites have been widely reported to possess antibacterial properties. Most of the studies simulating the interaction between bacterial cell membranes and the surface of graphene have proposed that the graphene-induced bacterial cell death is caused either by (1) the insertion of blade-like graphene-based nanosheets or (2) the destructive extraction of lipid molecules by the presence of the lipophilic graphene. These simulation studies have, however, only take into account graphene-cell membrane interactions where the graphene is in a dispersed form. In this paper, we report the antimicrobial behavior of graphene sheet surfaces in an attempt to further advance the current knowledge pertaining to graphene cytotoxicity using both experimental and computer simulation approaches. Graphene nanofilms were fabricated to exhibit different edge lengths and different angles of orientation in the graphene sheets. These substrates were placed in contact with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, where it was seen that these substrates exhibited variable bactericidal efficiency toward these two pathogenic bacteria. It was demonstrated that the density of the edges of the graphene was one of the principal parameters that contributed to the antibacterial behavior of the graphene nanosheet films. The study provides both experimental and theoretical evidence that the antibacterial behavior of graphene nanosheets arises from the formation of pores in the bacterial cell wall, causing a subsequent osmotic imbalance and cell death.

Role of defects in the onset of wall-induced granular convection

We investigate the onset of wall-induced convection in vertically vibrated granular matter by means of experiments and two-dimensional computer simulations. In both simulations and experiments we find that the wall-induced convection occurs inside the bouncing bed region of the parameter space, in which the granular bed behaves like a bouncing ball. A good agreement between experiments and simulations is found for the peak vibration acceleration at which convection starts. By comparing the results of simulations initialized with and without defects, we find that the onset of convection occurs at lower vibration strengths in the presence of defects. Furthermore, we find that the convection of granular particles initialized in a perfect hexagonal lattice is related to the nucleation of defects and the process is described by an Arrhenius law.

Convecting particle diffusion in a binary particle system under vertical vibration

We studied the separation behaviour of binary granular particles in a vertically vibrated container. The final separation of the binary particle system exhibited the Brazil-Nut (BN) effect, though it was not complete. Particle convection occurred, and four different typical convection modes were observed when the frequency f changed from 20 Hz to 80 Hz at constant dimensionless acceleration Γ = 4πAf(2)/g. However, when Γ changed from 2 to 4 at constant f, the system's convection mode stayed almost the same. In our experiments, one type of particle generally moved much faster than the other, so the former was termed the 'convecting' particle, and the latter was termed the 'non-convecting' particle. To study the separation results qualitatively, we divided the system into vertical layers and calculated the mass distribution of the binary particles along the z axis. The results showed that when f increased at constant Γ or Γ decreased at constant f, the convecting particles, usually the smaller and lighter ones, distributed less to the top side and more to the bottom side of the container. Finally, to explain the experimental results, we derived a mass conservation equation for the convecting particles considering simultaneous convection and diffusion. The equation described the experimental results well. We also analysed the effects of f, Γ, diameter ratio, density ratio, etc., on the final separation results.

Particle segregation in a sedimenting bidisperse soft sphere system

We study the sedimentation process of a binary colloidal soft sphere system where significant overlaps of the particles are possible. We employ estimates of the equation of states in the small and large pressure limit in order to predict the final states of the sedimentation process. Furthermore, Brownian dynamics simulations were performed in order to confirm the predictions and to explore the dynamics of the sedimentation. We observe that the segregation process due to gravity usually consists of multiple steps. Instead of single particles moving upwards or downwards we usually observe that first local segregation occurs, then clusters consisting of particles of one species are formed that finally sink towards their equilibrium position within the final sedimentation profile. The possible final states include complex phases like a phase consisting of large particles on the top and the bottom of the system with small particles in between. We also observe metastable network-like structures.

Center of mass scaling in three-dimensional binary granular systems

Using a combination of experimental results acquired through positron emission particle tracking and simulational results obtained via the discrete particle method, we determine a scaling relationship for the center of mass height of a vibrofluidized three-dimensional, bidisperse granular system. We find the scaling to be dependent on the characteristic velocity with which the system is driven, the depth of the granular bed, and the elasticities of the particles involved, as well as the degree of segregation exhibited by the system and the ratio of masses between particle species. The scaling is observed to be robust over a significant range of system parameters.