70th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics (November 19, 2017 — November 21, 2017)

V0038: Formation and Life of a Granular Cyclone

Authors
  • Behrooz Ferdowsi, Princeton University
  • Brandon C. Jones, Rutgers University
  • Jeremy L. Stein, Rutgers University
  • Troy Shinbrot, Rutgers University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/APS.DFD.2017.GFM.V0038

We demonstrate a previously unexplored range of patterns in vibrated non-cohesive granular systems. Some of the patterns we observe are ubiquitous on the surface of Earth and Mars. Surprisingly however, we observe a swirling motion —called here as ‘’Granular Cyclones’’— in the granular bed in a narrow range of frequencies. We report features and properties of this swirling granular motion and other topological patterns in this simple yet fascinating experimental system.

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