Shear-Induced Clustering in a Simple Driven Diffusive Model

TL;DR

This paper investigates a lattice model demonstrating shear-induced clustering and jamming transitions, revealing hysteresis and power-law cluster size distributions in non-equilibrium steady states.

Contribution

It introduces a simple driven diffusive lattice model capturing shear-induced clustering and characterizes the jamming transition with hysteresis and cluster size distributions.

Findings

Identification of unjammed and jammed steady states

Discontinuous jamming transition with hysteresis

Power-law distribution of cluster sizes

Abstract

We study a simple lattice model of shear-induced clustering in two dimensions in which clusters of particles aggregate under an imposed shear flow and fragment stochastically. Two non-equilibrium steady states are identified: an unjammed state and a jammed state characterised by a system-spanning cluster. A discontinuous jamming transition with strong hysteresis occurs as the shear rate is increased or fragmentation rate decreased. We study the kinetics of jamming and measure power law cluster size distributions. We also consider some general simulation issues including the role of Galilean invariance.