title: Diffusion as a mixing mechanism in granular materials.
abstract: We present several numerical results on granular mixtures. In particular, we examine the efficiency of diffusion as a mixing mechanism in these systems. The collisions are inelastic and to compensate the energy loss, we thermalize the grains by adding a random force. Starting with a segregated system, we show that uniform agitation (heating) leads to a uniform mixture of grains of different sizes. We define a characteristic mixing time tau(mix), and study theoretically and numerically its dependence on other parameters like the density. We examine a model for bidisperse systems for which we can calculate some physical quantities. We also examine the effect of a temperature gradient and demonstrate the appearance of an expected segregation.
authors: Groupe Matière Condensée et Materiaux, Université de Rennes, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Henrique
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Batrouni
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Bideau