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| How sandcastles fall |
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| Author(s): Halsey TC, Levine AJ |
| Source: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Volume: 80 Issue: 14 Pages: 3141-3144 Published: APR 6 1998 |
| Times Cited: 98 References: 10 |
| Abstract: Capillary forces significantly affect the stability of sandpiles. We analyze the stability of sandpiles with such forces, and find that the critical angle is unchanged in the limit of an infinitely large system; however, this angle is increased for finite-sized systems. The failure occurs in the bulk of the sandpile rather than at the surface. This is related to a standard result in soil mechanics. The increase in the critical angle is determined by the surface roughness of the particles, and exhibits three regimes as a function of the added-fluid volume. Our theory is in qualitative agreement with the recent experimental results of Hornbaker et al., although our interpretation differs. |
| Document Type: Article |
| Language: English |
| Reprint Address: Halsey, TC (reprint author), Exxon Res & Engn Co, Route 22 E, Annandale, NJ 08801 USA |
Addresses:
1. Exxon Res & Engn Co, Annandale, NJ 08801 USA |
| Publisher: AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOC, ONE PHYSICS ELLIPSE, COLLEGE PK, MD 20740-3844 USA |
| Subject Category: Physics, Multidisciplinary |
| IDS Number: ZG049 |
| ISSN: 0031-9007 |
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| |  |  |  |  | | | | Record from Web of Science® | |  |  | | | | | | |