Effects of reduced gravity on the granular fluid-solid transition: underexplored forces can dominate soft matter behaviors

TL;DR

This paper discusses how reduced gravity affects the transition between fluid-like and solid-like states in granular media, which is crucial for planetary science, space exploration, and engineering.

Contribution

It highlights underexplored forces influencing granular behavior under reduced gravity, emphasizing their importance for science and space missions.

Findings

Reduced gravity alters granular fluid-solid transition dynamics

Implications for planetary formation and space exploration

Identification of key forces dominating behavior in low gravity

Abstract

Granular media are soft matter systems that exhibit some of the extreme behavior of complex fluids. Understanding of the natural formation of planetary bodies, landing on and exploring them, future engineering of structures beyond Earth and planetary defense all hinge on the ability to predict the complex mechanical behavior of granular matter. As we understand them, these behaviors are linked to the granular fluid to solid transition. In this white paper, we describe issues that emerge for granular systems under reduced gravity and their implications for basic science and space exploration. (Topical White Paper submitted to the NASA Biological and Physical Sciences in Space Decadal Survey 2023-2032)