Rheology of dense vibrated granular flows: Nonmonotonic response controlled by granular temperature
Abstract
We study the rheology of dense granular materials subjected to vertical vibration by using numerical simulations of a stress-imposed vane rheometer. The effective viscosity increases with confining pressure, decreases with vibration amplitude, and exhibits a nonmonotonic dependence on frequency: Weakening is observed at intermediate frequencies but is lost at high frequencies. We show that the rheological response is governed by the balance between grain-scale agitation energy and the stabilizing effect of confinement. This framework reconciles previously observed trends in viscosity and friction weakening and emphasizes the central role of energy injection and dissipation in determining granular flow properties under vibration.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Granular flow and fluidized beds
Rheology and Fluid Dynamics Studies
Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Media
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Research
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 3
- Publication date
- 24 February 2026
- Language
- EN