Knowra Granular material Granular material A collection of discrete solid particles, such as grains, pellets, or beads, whose collective behavior differs from that of a continuous solid or fluid.
Jamming : A transition in which a disordered collection becomes mechanically rigid as density or stress increases. Contact networks can arrest granular flow and make grains support a load.
Friction : The resistance to relative motion between surfaces in contact. Interparticle friction helps determine stability, shear strength, and flow.
Powder metallurgy : Manufacturing processes that form metal parts from powders, usually through compaction and sintering. It turns controlled particle packing into dense, engineered components.
Newtonian fluid : A fluid whose viscosity is constant at a given temperature and pressure, independent of shear rate. Granular flow can stop under stress and sustain enduring contact networks.
Force chain : A connected path of particle contacts that carries unusually large forces through a granular assembly. These uneven load paths explain how force travels through a pile.
Contact mechanics : The study of forces and deformations where bodies touch. Grain contacts transmit the forces that organize an assembly.
Silo : A structure for storing bulk materials such as grain, cement, or pellets. Stored grains can exert unexpected loads and discharge unevenly.
Elastic solid : A solid that deforms reversibly in proportion to applied stress within its elastic range. Granular piles rearrange through frictional contacts and can retain permanent changes.
Angle of repose : The steepest angle at which a loose granular pile remains stable without sliding. It reflects the balance between gravity, friction, and grain geometry.
Particle size distribution : The proportions of particles across different size ranges in a sample. Size mixtures alter packing, permeability, and segregation.
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