Segregation Transitions in Wet Granular Matter

Abstract

We report the effect of interstitial fluid on the extent of segregation by imaging the pile that results after bidisperse color-coded particles are poured into a silo. Segregation is sharply reduced and preferential clumping of small particles is observed when a small volume fraction of fluid V(f) is added. We find that viscous forces in addition to capillary forces have an important effect on the extent of segregation s and the angle of repose straight theta. We show that the sharp initial change and the subsequent saturation in s and straight theta occurs over similar V(f). We also find that a transition back to segregation can occur when the particles are completely immersed in a fluid at low viscosities.