Nonequilibrium Patterns in Granular Mixing and Segregation

MAR 01, 2000

Granular flows that mix different species exhibit a surprisingly diverse repertoire of striking and beautiful behaviors. Better understanding of the mixing process should help in predicting whether a given flow will mix—or segregate—its constituents.

DOI: 10.1063/1.883018

Troy Shinbrot

Fernando J. Muzzio

For over 5000 years, granular mixing has been a topic of acutely practical concern. Paleolithic cave painters mixed their colors from blends of ochre and animal products; ancient Chinese and Egyptians blended inks and cosmetics from pork soot, crushed pearls, and compounds of lead; Aztec priests prepared drugs from concoctions of herbs and roots; and Michelangelo pigmented the Sistine chapel frescoes with blends including chalk, charcoal, and lead.

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More about the authors

Troy Shinbrot, Rutgers University.

Fernando J. Muzzio, Pharmaceutical Engineering Training Program, Rutgers University.