Understanding the micro-world of particle-to-particle interactions

Contact modeling of particle-to-particle interactions has its own value in the simulation process and the understanding of macroscopic phenomena such as sand dunes, landslides, vibrating granular systems and other problems involving powders and grains. However, the real contact problem of particle interactions, let it be natural crystalline grains or amorphous glass beads, has been highly overlooked by means of experimentation. In this seminar, we will look into this contact problem and specifically on the way particles interact with each other and with their surrounding environment through an experimental approach. We will discuss on the influence of stress history, rate of loading and creep, and predominantly we will see pairs of particles within a general context of Coulomb friction. It will also be attempted to link micro- and macroscopic observations from experimental results on granular systems.