Granular segregation in dunes and avalanches

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• Nathalie Vriend (University of Cambridge)
• Thursday 21 April 2016, 11:30-12:30
• Open Plan Area, BP Institute, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Catherine Pearson.

In this talk, I will explore granular segregation which plays a critical role in avalanche dynamics and dune building. Segregation is the separation of grains with different properties—such as density or size—due to a variety of physical processes. Segregation not only occurs within avalanches in nature, but can also be observed in the kitchen in a cereal box where large particle rise to the top. This natural separation creates pattern formation at the grain scale which influence large-scale phenomena dramatically.

I will illustrate my research with data from a variety of laboratory experiments and two recent desert field campaigns in Qatar. I will also highlight some very recent laboratory work in which we investigate granular segregation using photoelasticity for the first time. My presentation includes three central messages: (1) we are able to reproduce and investigate key physical characteristics of avalanches in the laboratory, (2) the particle segregation results in strong layering in avalanches and (3) the internal structure of desert dunes features remarkable patterns and segregation, which we can visualize in unprecedented detail with geophysical techniques.

This talk is part of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF) series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• Cambridge Energy Seminars
• Department of Earth Sciences seminars
• Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows (IEEF)
• NanoDTC Energy Materials Talks
• Open Plan Area, BP Institute, Madingley Rise CB3 0EZ
• history
• ps635

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