Pressure screening and fluctuations at the bottom of a granular column

TL;DR

This study provides detailed measurements of static pressure in granular columns, revealing the influence of packing fraction and shear bands, and discusses the limitations of classical models with respect to recent theories.

Contribution

It offers precise experimental data on pressure saturation and boundary effects, challenging classical Janssen model assumptions with new insights.

Findings

Pressure saturation depends on packing fraction.

Shear bands influence pressure distribution.

Classical Janssen model has limitations.

Abstract

We report sets of precise and reproducible measurements on the static pressure at the bottom of a granular column. We make a quantitative analysis of the pressure saturation when the column height is increased. We evidence a great sensitivity of the measurements with the global packing fraction and the eventual presence of shear bands at the boundaries. We also show the limit of the classical Janssen model and discuss these experimental results under the scope of recently proposed theoretical frameworks.