Softening induced instability of a stretched cohesive granular layer
arXiv:1010.4890 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.208001
Abstract
We report on a cellular pattern which spontaneously forms at the surface of a thin layer of a cohesive granular material submitted to in-plane stretching. We present a simple model in which the mechanism responsible of the instability is the ``strain softening'' exhibited by humid granular materials above a typical strain. Our analysis indicates that such type of instability should be observed in any system presenting a negative stress sensitivity to strain perturbations.