title: Formation and transport of a sand heap in an inclined and vertically vibrated container.
abstract: We investigate experimentally the formation and the transportation of a heap formed by granular materials in an inclined and vertically vibrated container. We observe how the transport velocity of heap up the container is related to the driving acceleration, the driving frequency, and the inclination of the container. An empirical law which governs the transport velocity of the heap is presented. An analogous experiment was performed with a heap-shaped Plexiglas block. We propose that the compressive force resulted from pressure gradient in ambient gas plays a crucial role in enhancing and maintaining a heap, and the ratchet effect causes the movement of the heap.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Modern Acoustics and Institute of Acoustics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, People's Republic of China. miaogq@nju.edu.cn
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Weizhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rongjue
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wei