On flows of granular materials (Q1332511)

This article reviews the behavior of materials made up of a large assemblage of solid particles under rapid and quasi static deformations. The focus is on flows at relatively high concentrations and on conditions when the interstitial fluid plays an insignificant role. The momentum and energy exchange processes are then primarily governed by interparticle collisions and Coulomb-type frictional contact. We first discuss some physical behavior -- dilatancy, internal friction, fluidization and particle segregation -- that are typical to the understanding of granular flows. We finally present a phenomenological approach that describes rapid flows of granular materials under simultaneous transport of heat and close with a summary of stability analyses of the basic flow down an inclined plane.