A Statistical Mechanics Approach to the Inherent States of Granular Media

Abstract

We consider a Statistical Mechanics approach to granular systems by following the original ideas developed by Edwards. We use the concept of ``inherent states'', defined as the stable configurations in the potential energy landscape, introduced in the context of glasses. Under simplifying assumptions, the equilibrium inherent states can be characterised by a configurational temperature, $1/\beta$. We link $\beta$ to Edwards' compactivity and address the problem of its experimental measure. We also discuss the possibility to describe the time dependent distribution probability in the inherent states with an appropriate master equation.

revised version in press

References in corpus (5)

• Edwards measures for powders and glasses
• Extension of the Fluctuation-Dissipation theorem to the physical aging of a model glass-forming liquid
• The jamming transition of Granular Media
• Hysteresis in vibrated granular media
• Avalanches at rough surfaces

Cited by in corpus (20)

• Wet Granular Materials
• Violation of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem in glassy systems: basic notions and the numerical evidence
• Active vs. Passive Hard Disks Against a Membrane : Mechanical Pressure and Instability
• Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics of dense granular media
• Granular contact force density of states and entropy in a modified Edwards ensemble
• A possible experimental test of the thermodynamic approach to granular media
• Equilibrium Distribution of the Inherent States and their Dynamics in Glassy Systems and Granular Media
• Glass transition in granular media
• Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of frozen systems in inherent states
• Segregation in hard spheres mixtures under gravity. An extension of Edwards approach with two thermodynamical parameters
• Size segregation in granular media induced by phase transition
• Jamming transition in granular media: A mean field approximation and numerical simulations
• Energy distribution and effective temperatures in a driven dissipative model
• Closed model for granular compaction under weak tapping
• Segregation in fluidized versus tapped packs
• Edwards thermodynamics for a driven athermal system with dry friction
• Stationary Probability Distribution in Granular Media
• Volume fluctuations and linear response in a simple model of compaction
• Stress phase space for static granular matter
• Generalized Edwards thermodynamics and marginal stability in a driven system with dry and viscous friction