Particle dynamics in sheared granular matter

Abstract

The particle dynamics and shear forces of granular matter in a Couette geometry are determined experimentally. The normalized tangential velocity $V(y)$ declines strongly with distance $y$ from the moving wall, independent of the shear rate and of the shear dynamics. Local RMS velocity fluctuations $δV(y)$ scale with the local velocity gradient to the power $0.4 \pm 0.05$. These results agree with a locally Newtonian, continuum model, where the granular medium is assumed to behave as a liquid with a local temperature $δV(y)^2$ and density dependent viscosity.