Domains growth and packing properties in driven granular media subject to gravity

TL;DR

This paper investigates the packing and growth dynamics of granular media under gravity using frustrated lattice gas models, highlighting the effects of surface interactions and domain formation during compaction.

Contribution

It introduces and compares two lattice gas models for granular media, analyzing their packing structures and dynamics under different interaction conditions.

Findings

Grain domain formation occurs during compaction.

Surface interactions influence packing density and dynamics.

Differences between models suggest varied experimental behaviors.

Abstract

We study the dynamical properties of recently introduced frustrated lattice gas models (IFLG and Tetris) for granular media under gentle shaking. We consider both the case where grains have inter-grain surface interactions and the case where they have not, corresponding, for instance, to the presence or absence of moisture in the packs. To characterise the grains packing structure, we discuss the properties of density distribution. In particular, we consider the phenomenon of grains domains formation under compaction. New results amenable of experimental check are discussed along with some important differences between the dynamics of the present models.