Avalanches of grains with inhomogeneous distribution of inner mass

PIVA, M.; MARTINO, R.; GEMINARD, J.-C; AGUIRRE, MARÍA ALEJANDRA

PHYSICAL REVIEW E

AMER PHYSICAL SOC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2018 vol. 98 p. 1 - 5

1539-3755

We study the stability of granular systems constituted by particles with inhomogeneous distribution of innermass, which is a factor that has not been previously analyzed. In particular, we report experimental resultsconcerning the stability of two-dimensional piles of hollow plexiglass cylinders containing an inserted smallermetal rod. These particles partially fill a rough-edged drum whose rotation produces successive avalanches.The distribution of the maximum angle of stability, the angle of repose, and the avalanche size are analyzed forsystems in which the inserts are fixed or free to move. We reveal two interesting effects related to the nonuniforminner mass distribution. On the one hand, the disorder in the array of the center of mass, enhanced in the systemof particles with a fixed insert, decreases the stability of the pile. On the other hand, both mobile or fixed insertslead to larger erosion of the free surface once the avalanche is triggered.