COLLISIONAL INTERACTION OF A SMALL NUMBER OF CONFINED, INELASTIC GRAINS.

In some grain systems of practical interest, however, the dispersed grains, although playing an important role in the system dynamics, are not numerous enough to justify a continuum description a priori. We have studied a computer model of one such system, in which a small number of inelastic spheres driven by a localized energy source are confined to an enclosed three dimensional space. Grain inelasticity exerts a dominant influence on these systems. With respect to the Maxwellian velocity distribution which elastic particles with the same average 'temperature' would show, the simulated velocity distribution exhibits a peak at lower energy, with a significant high energy tail.

Duke Scholars

Author Peter K. Haff Earth and Climate Sciences