Critical scaling for dense granular flow between parallel plates near jamming.

Abstract

We numerically study the flow of dense granular materials between parallel plates driven by an external force. The granular materials form a jammed solidlike state when the external force is below a critical force, while they flow like fluids above the critical force. The transition is characterized by the mass flux. The critical force depends on the average packing fraction and the distance between the plates. The scaling laws for the critical force and the mass flux are theoretically predicted based on a continuum model, and are numerically verified.