Effect of inelasticity on the phase transitions of a thin vibrated granular layer

TL;DR

This study investigates how inelasticity influences phase transitions in a vibrated granular layer, revealing that higher inelasticity suppresses ordered phases and induces melting into disordered liquids.

Contribution

It provides experimental and computational evidence on the impact of inelasticity on phase behavior in vibrated granular layers, highlighting the absence of ordered phases in highly inelastic materials.

Findings

Inelasticity significantly alters the phase diagram.

High inelasticity leads to melting of ordered phases.

Ordered phases are absent in highly inelastic granular layers.

Abstract

We describe an experimental and computational investigation of the ordered and disordered phases of a vibrating thin, dense granular layer composed of identical metal spheres. We compare the results from spheres with different amounts of inelasticity and show that inelasticity has a strong effect on the phase diagram. We also report the melting of an ordered phase to a homogeneous disordered liquid phase at high vibration amplitude or at large inelasticities. Our results show that dissipation has a strong effect on ordering and that in this system ordered phases are absent entirely in highly inelastic materials.