Huerta D A, Ruiz-Suárez J C
Departamento de Física Aplicada, CINVESTAV, Mérida, AP 73 Cordemex, Yucatán 97310, México.
Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Mar 19;92(11):114301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.114301. Epub 2004 Mar 18.
The segregation of large spheres in a granular bed under vertical vibrations is studied. In our experiments, we systematically measure rise times as a function of density, diameter, and depth, for two different sinusoidal excitations. The measurements reveal that, at low frequencies, inertia and convection are the only mechanisms behind segregation. Inertia (convection) dominates when the relative density is greater (less) than one. At high frequencies, where convection is suppressed, fluidization of the granular bed causes either buoyancy or sinkage and segregation occurs.
