Mechanics of Granular Media

This monograph provides a broad coverage of phenomena of deformation and machining of granular media. Granular matter consists of macroscopic particles of various sizes, shapes, and surface properties leading to a typical behavior which is, on one hand, similar to fluids since they take the form of their repository and, on the other hand, similar to solids under deformation. This book analyses this typical behavior of granular media for soils, rocks and stones, metals and various synthetic materials. It presents a theoretical description, applications and the understanding of the basic phenomena characteristic of granular matter. Various mixing and intriguing pattern-formation processes in granular materials are presented by means of illustrative and original experiments and a concise theoretical development.