Scaling behaviour in size segregation ("Brazil Nuts")

Abstract

Using a previously introduced Monte Carlo method, due to Rosato, Prinz, Strandburg and Swendsen, we carry out in two dimensions numerical studies of size segregation, a phenomenon which occurs when a granular medium made of particles of different sizes is shaken. We propose a new scaling law relating the segregation velocity υ to the amplitude of shaking A and to the ratio R of the diameters of the small disks to the large disks. ForA larger than a critical amplitude Ac, a scaling law holds: υ ~ (R2 - 1)α f ((A -Ac) (R2-1)z) where α and z are exponents