Dry granular materials, such as sand, sugar and powders, can be poured into a container like a liquid and can also form a pile, resisting gravity like a solid, which is why they can be regarded as a fourth state of matter, neither solid nor liquid. This book focuses on defining the physics of dry granular media in a systematic way, providing a collection of articles written by recognised experts. The physics of this field is new and full of challenges, but many questions (such as kinetic theories, plasticity, continuum and discrete modelling) also require the strong participation of mechanical and chemical engineers, soil mechanists, geologists and astrophysicists. The book gathers into a single volume the relevant concepts from all these disciplines, enabling the reader to gain a rapid understanding of the foundations, as well as the open questions, of the physics of granular materials. The contributors have been chosen particularly for their ability to explain new concepts, making the book attractive to students or researchers contemplating a foray into the field. The breadth of the treatment, on the other hand, makes the book a useful reference for scientists who are already experienced in the subject.

A knowledge of the mechanical behaviour of both naturally occurring materials, such as soils and rocks, and artificial materials such as concrete and industrial granular matter, is of fundamental importance to their proper use in engineering and scientific applications. This volume contains selected lectures by international experts on current developments and problems in the numerical modelling of cohesive-frictional materials which provide a deeper understanding of the microscopic and macroscopic description of such materials. This book fills a gap by emphasizing the cross-fertilization of ideas between engineers and scientists engaged in this exciting field of research.

A knowledge of the mechanical behaviour of both naturally occurring materials, such as soils and rocks, and artificial materials such as concrete and industrial granular matter, is of fundamental importance to their proper use in engineering and scientific applications. This volume contains selected lectures by international experts on current developments and problems in the numerical modelling of cohesive-frictional materials which provide a deeper understanding of the microscopic and macroscopic description of such materials. This book fills a gap by emphasizing the cross-fertilization of ideas between engineers and scientists engaged in this exciting field of research.

Dry granular materials, such as sand, sugar and powders, can be poured into a container like a liquid and can also form a pile, resisting gravity like a solid, which is why they can be regarded as a fourth state of matter, neither solid nor liquid. This book focuses on defining the physics of dry granular media in a systematic way, providing a collection of articles written by recognised experts. The physics of this field is new and full of challenges, but many questions (such as kinetic theories, plasticity, continuum and discrete modelling) also require the strong participation of mechanical and chemical engineers, soil mechanists, geologists and astrophysicists. The book gathers into a single volume the relevant concepts from all these disciplines, enabling the reader to gain a rapid understanding of the foundations, as well as the open questions, of the physics of granular materials. The contributors have been chosen particularly for their ability to explain new concepts, making the book attractive to students or researchers contemplating a foray into the field. The breadth of the treatment, on the other hand, makes the book a useful reference for scientists who are already experienced in the subject.