Abstract
We report the formation of a crater at the free surface of an immersed granular bed, locally crossed by an ascending gas flow. In two dimensions, the crater consists of two piles which develop around the location of the gas emission. We observe that the typical size of the crater increases logarithmically with time, independently of the gas emission dynamics. We describe the related granular flows and give an account of the influence of the experimental parameters, especially of the grain size and of the gas flow.
- Received 6 November 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.79.021301
©2009 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Sand piles
Published 9 February 2009
Images of the craters that form in underwater sand piles as air is forced to flow from beneath lead to a quantitative model of granular flow.
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