A Simple Model for Sheared Granular Layers

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple phenomenological model for stick-slip motion in sheared granular layers, capturing key experimental features by modeling fluidization and stress chain collapse.

Contribution

It introduces a novel simple friction model based on fluidization degree, explaining stick-slip behavior in granular layers.

Findings

Successfully reproduces experimental stick-slip features

Quantitative agreement with Nasuno et al.'s results

Highlights role of fluidization in granular friction

Abstract

We phenomenologically investigate stick-slip motion of sheared granular layers. Our phenomenology is constructed in the context of nucleation-and-growth of the fluidized area which is triggered by collapsing of stress chains. Based on this picture, we give a simple friction model by introducing the degree of the fluidization. It is found that the present model can successfully reproduce major features of the experimental results reported by Nasuno {\it et al.} (Phys. Rev. E {\bf 58}, 2161 (1998)) with quantitatively good agreement.