Landau-type order parameter equation for shear banding in granular Couette flow.
We show that a Landau-type "order-parameter" equation describes the onset of shear-band formation in granular plane Couette flow wherein the flow undergoes an ordering transition into alternate layers of dense and dilute regions of low and high shear rates, respectively, parallel to the flow direction. Even though the linear theory predicts the stability of the homogeneous shear solution in dilute flows, our analytical bifurcation theory suggests that there is a subcritical finite-amplitude instability that is likely to lead to shear-band formation in dilute flows, which is in agreement with previous numerical simulations.
Engineering Mechanics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur PO, Bangalore 560064, India.
Priyanka
P
Shukla
Meheboob
M
Alam