title: Transverse instability of avalanches in granular flows down an incline.
abstract: Avalanche experiments on an erodible substrate are analyzed using the "partial fluidization" model of dense granular flows. The model identifies a family of propagating solitonlike avalanches with shape and velocity controlled by the inclination angle and the depth of the substrate. At high inclination angles, the solitons display a transverse instability, followed by coarsening and fingering similar to recent experimental observation. A primary cause for the transverse instability is directly related to the dependence of the soliton velocity on the granular mass trapped in the avalanche.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA.
authors.forename: Igor S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Aranson
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malloggi
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clément