Dynamic shear of granular material under variable gravity conditionsThis paper describes some experiments with granular materials which recently have been conducted aboard the NASA KC-135 aircraft during variable gravity maneuvers. The main experimental apparatus consisted of a small drum containing granular material which was rotated slowly while the angle assumed by the slip surface with respect to the horizontal was observed and recorded photographically. Conventional wisdom has held that this 'dynamic angle of response' was a material constant, independent of (among other things) gravitational level. The results presented here are quite contrary, suggesting instead an angle that varies with the reciprocal of the square root of gravity. This finding may have important consequences on the understanding of many active processes in Planetary Geology involving granular materials and may provide qualitative confirmation of some of the theoretical predictions of modern models of granular shear flows.
Document ID
19880035256
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
White, B. R. (California, University Davis, United States)
Klein, S. P. (California Univ. Davis, CA, United States)