Inclined granular flows on collisional shear layers

Abstract

We analyze steady, uniform flow down inclines in which collisions between particles dominate the transfer of momentum and energy in a region of intensely sheared particles at the base of the flow. At the top of the region is an erodible interface that separates two regimes involving colliding particles. Those below the interface participate in the shearing, those above the interface are too concentrated to be sheared. At the bottom of the region, the particles of the flow collide with the fixed particles of a bumpy boundary. Gravity acts throughout the region of shear. The shear stress transmitted through the shear layer to the material above it is determined in terms of the velocity of this material and the total height of the flow. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.