A column of grains in the jamming limit: glassy dynamics in the compaction process

TL;DR

This paper models the compaction of granular columns near jamming, highlighting how grain shape regularity influences static and dynamic behaviors in vibrated granular systems.

Contribution

It introduces a stochastic model linking grain shape regularity to compaction dynamics, emphasizing the role of the control parameter  in granular jamming.

Findings

Regular grain shapes lead to different jamming dynamics than irregular shapes.

The model shows how shape-related parameters affect the compaction process.

Irregular shapes (irrational ) influence the system's approach to jamming.

Abstract

We investigate a stochastic model describing a column of grains in the jamming limit, in the presence of a low vibrational intensity. The key control parameter of the model, $\epsilon$, is a representation of granular shape, related to the reduced void space. Regularity and irregularity in grain shapes, respectively corresponding to rational and irrational values of $\epsilon$, are shown to be centrally important in determining the statics and dynamics of the compaction process.