title: Flow-induced shear instabilities of cohesive granulates.
abstract: In this work we use a multiscale framework to calculate the fluidization threshold of three-dimensional cohesive granulates under shear forces exerted by a creeping flow. A continuum model of flow through porous media provides an analytical expression for the average drag force on a single grain. The balance equation for the forces and a force propagation model are then used to investigate the effects of porosity and packing structure on the stability of the pile. We obtain a closed-form expression for the instability threshold of a regular packing of monodisperse frictionless cohesive spherical grains in a planar fracture. Our result quantifies the compound effect of structural (packing orientation and porosity) and dynamical properties of the system on its stability.
authors.affiliation: Clemson University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA. ibattia@clemson.edu
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Battiato
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vollmer