The effects of an impact velocity dependent coefficient of restitution on stresses developed by sheared granular materials (Q1819617)

Following the granular flow kinetic theory of \textit{C. K. K. Lun}, \textit{S. B. Savage}, \textit{D. J. Jeffrey} and \textit{N. Chepurniy} [J. Fluid Mech. 140, 223-256 (1984; Zbl 0553.73098)], a moment method is used to obtain the approximate form for the single particle velocity distribution function for the case of smooth, slightly inelastic, uniform spherical particles in which the coefficient of restitution e depends upon the particle impact velocity. Constitutive equations for stresses are derived and the theory is applied to the case of a simple shear flow. Theoretical predictions of stresses are compared with experimental results. The effect of the impact velocity dependent e is to cause the stresses to vary with the shear rate raised to a power less than two; this is consistent with the experimental observations. On the basis of the present theory and comparisons with experimental data it is concluded that theoretical models which include both surface friction and an impact velocity dependent e will lead to improved agreement between the theoretical predictions and the measurements.