title: Self-similar dynamic quasi-two-dimensional sand fronts.
abstract: We report on a study of advancing quasi-two-dimensional sand fronts on an inclined flat and thin strip confined between two vertical plates. These fronts form when a thin initial stream of sand running down the flat obstacle gets trapped at some distance from the injection point. Right after this trapping, the front starts to advance upstream and grow in time. The shapes at successive times are found to be self-similar in time. The stability conditions for the obtained fronts are also outlined. A simple model for interface dynamics gives reasonable predictions for the observed shapes.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Physique Moléculaire Optique et Hertzienne (UMR 5798), Université Bordeaux I, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence Cedex, France.
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Boudet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amarouchene
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kellay