Segregation in a model system for tapped wet disks in two dimensions

R. O. UÑAC; L. OGER; A. M. VIDALES

European Physical Journal E

Spring er-Verlag

Año: 2015 vol. 38

The problem of segregation of mixtures in a column of wet disks subjected to tapping is studied through a simple model that simulates, through a pseudo-dynamics algorithm, the formation of the packing and the successive tapping of it. The particles consist in a binary mixture of disks with two different sizes and the capillary forces are simulated stochastically by a sticking probability between the particles. Wehave recently shown that arch formation is one of the chief mechanisms determining size segregation in a non-convecting ensemble of dry disks (R.O. Uñac et al., Eur. Phys. J. E 37, 117 (2014)). In the presentpaper, we focus on the special role that capillary bridges can have on this type of segregation process, besides the proven effect of the presence of arches. We find that humidity between grains can enhancethe segregation process in a binary mixture. In particular, for the case of the segregation of an intruder, humidity can promote the rise of the big particle even in cases where the number or the size of the archeswould not normally favor the climb.