Skip to content

Spontaneous Patterning of Confined Granular Rods

J. Galanis, D. Harries, D. L. Sackett, W. Losert, R. Nossal

cond-mat.softarXiv:cond-mat/0508202

Abstract

Vertically vibrated rod-shaped granular materials confined to quasi-2D containers self organize into distinct patterns. We find, consistent with theory and simulation, a density dependent isotropic-nematic transition. Along the walls, rods interact sterically to form a wetting layer. For high rod densities, complex patterns emerge as a result of competition between bulk and boundary alignment. A continuum elastic energy accounting for nematic distortion and local wall anchoring reproduces the structures seen experimentally.

Create a lesson