Abstract
In 1773 Coulomb1 recognized that the static properties of granular systems can be discussed in terms of the frictional properties between different layers2, leading to his relationship between the angle of repose of a granular pile (θ0) and the coefficient of static friction µ s: tan θ0 =µs. Two centuries later, solid friction and granular media still present many puzzles. One such is that the coefficient of static friction depends on the time during which the solids remain in contact before the measurement. Here we show that this ageing effect is manifested too in the angle of repose of granular media and originates from capillary condensation of water vapour between the packed particles, leading to the formation of water bridges. By assuming that the kinetics of this process are governed by the thermally activated nucleation of bridges, we can reproduce both the time- and humidity-dependence of the ageing behaviour. Our results also clarify the kinetics of adsorption in porous media more generally.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Coulomb, C. A. Sur une application des règles de Maximis et Minimis à quelques Problèmes de Statique, relatifs à l'Architecture, in Mémoires de Mathématiques et de Physique, Académie Royale des Sciences, Paris, 343–382 (1773).
Duran, J. Sables, Poudres et Grains(Eyrolles Sciences, Paris, (1997)).
Scholz, C. H. The Mechanics of Earthquakes and Faulting(Cambridge Univ. Press, 1990).
Dieterich, J. & Conrad, G. Effect of humidity on time- and velocity-dependent friction in rocks. J. Geophys. Res. 89, 4196–4202 (1984).
Heslot, F., Baumberger, T., Perrin, B., Caroli, B. & Caroli, C. Creep, stick-slip, and dry-friction dynamics: Experiments and a heuristic model. Phys. Rev. E 49, 4973–4988 (1994).
Hornbaker, D. J., Albert, R., Albert, I., Barabasi, A.-L. & Schiffer, P. What keeps sandcastles standing? Nature 387, 765 (1997).
Halsey, T. C. & Levine, A. J. How sandcastles fall. Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 3141–3144 (1998).
Maugis, D. Adhesion of spheres: the JKR-DMT transition using a Dugdale model. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 150, 243–269 (1992).
Israelachvili, J. N. Intermolecular and Surfaces Forces(Academic, London, 1985).
Evans, R. in Liquids at Interfaces(eds Charvolin, J., Joanny, J. F. & Zinn-Justin, J.) 3–98 (Elsevier Science, New York, 1989).
Crassous, J., Charlaix, E. & Loubet, J.-L. Capillary condensation between high-energy surfaces. An experimental study with a surface force apparatus. Europhys. Lett. 28, 37–42 (1994).
Iwamatsu, I. & Horii, K. Capillary condensation and adhesion of two wetted surfaces. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 182, 400–406 (1996).
Westbrook, J. H. & Jorgensen, P. J. Effect of water desorption on indentation microhardness anisotropy in minerals. Am. Mineral. 53, 1899–1914 (1968).
Estrin, Y. & Brechet, Y. On a model of frictional sliding. Pure Appl. Geophys. 147, 745–762 (1996).
Acknowledgements
We thank J.-M. Georges and M.L. Bocquet for discussions. L.B. thanks J. Duran for providing ref. 1.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bocquet, L., Charlaix, E., Ciliberto, S. et al. Moisture-induced ageing in granular media and the kinetics of capillary condensation. Nature 396, 735–737 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/25492
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/25492
This article is cited by
-
Role of capillary adhesion in the friction peak during the tacky transition
Friction (2022)
-
Non-monotonic Dynamics in the Onset of Frictional Slip
Tribology Letters (2022)
-
Oscillating friction of nanoscale capillary bridge
Friction (2022)
-
Magnetic Janssen effect
Nature Communications (2021)
-
Role of interfacial water in adhesion, friction, and wear—A critical review
Friction (2021)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.