The transition from fluid-like to solid-like behavior in granular flows

This paper discusses the transition between rapid and quasistatic granular flows, one stage in the process of the transition from completely fluidized to solid behavior. The results are based on energy arguments: i.e., in order to maintain a rapid granular flow, the granular temperature must be large enough to support the applied overburden. The results indicate that, as for the quasistatic-flow/solid transition, the rapid-flow/quasistatic-flow transition occurs at a constant stress ratio. In this case, the stress ratio may be though of as a dimensionless ratio of the shear work that is related to the generation of granular temperature and the overburden which must be supported by the particle inertia.