Fluidization of a vertically oscillated shallow granular layer

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study fluidization of a vertically vibrated, three-dimensional shallow granular layer. As the container acceleration is increased above g, the granular temperature and root mean square particle displacement increase, gradually fluidizing the layer. For nearly elastic particles, or low shaking frequencies, or small layer depths, the end of the fluidization process is marked by an abrupt increase in the granular temperature and rms particle displacement. The layer is then fully fluidized since macroscopic, fluid-like phenomena such as convection rolls and surface waves are observed. Increasing the total dissipation (by either decreasing the restitution coefficient or increasing the total number of particles) decreases the increase in granular temperature and rms particle displacement at fluidization, and shifts the increase to higher accelerations. Increasing the frequency also decreases the magnitude of the jump, and shifts the change to lower accelerations.