Stretched exponentials and power laws in granular avalanching

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Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation D A Head and G J Rodgers 1999 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 32 1387 DOI 10.1088/0305-4470/32/8/007

0305-4470/32/8/1387

Abstract

We introduce a model for granular surface flow which exhibits both stretched exponential and power law avalanching over its parameter range. Two modes of transport are incorporated, a rolling layer consisting of individual particles and the overdamped, sliding motion of particle clusters. The crossover in behaviour observed in experiments on piles of rice is attributed to a change in the dominant mode of transport. We predict that power law avalanching will be observed whenever surface flow is dominated by clustered motion.

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10.1088/0305-4470/32/8/007