Applications of the statistical mechanics of inherent states to granular media

Antonio Coniglio, Annalisa Fierro and Mario Nicodemi

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2001, vol. 302, issue 1, 193-201

Abstract: We review the results of a statistical mechanics approach to granular materials and its extension to non-thermal systems in their “inherent states”. We introduce a “tapping” dynamics, based on a dynamics used for real granular matter, which allows to visit the space of the inherent states. It is assumed that under stationarity or quasi-stationarity the distribution among the inherent states satisfies the principle of maximum entropy. This leads to a distribution characterised by a configurational temperature related to Edwards compactivity. The prediction from such an approach are checked on a standard Hamiltonian lattice model and, in the present unifying framework, it is possible to explain a variety of properties of granular materials, ranging from their logarithmic compaction to typical “memory” phenomena.

Keywords: Inherent states; Granular materials; Glassy systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:302:y:2001:i:1:p:193-201

DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(01)00464-2

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