Modeling Granular Segregation: Insights from Four Decades of Research

In this review, we introduce granular materials as a condensed matter system and briefly discuss their general properties. We then focus on particle segregation in rapid, dense granular flows, a phenomenon that occurs more readily in granular materials than in other condensed matter systems. Our primary emphasis is on the development of continuum models to describe segregation in these systems. Over the years, numerous approaches have been proposed, each offering different perspectives on how to construct such models. Rather than providing an exhaustive review of any single approach, we compare and contrast various modeling strategies, highlighting their commonalities and respective advantages. By doing so, we aim to establish a clearer connection between different approaches, facilitating closer comparisons and potential synergies between them. We believe that bridging these approaches is essential for advancing our understanding and improving predictive capabilities in granular segregation modeling in the future.

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Publication Details

Journal
Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics
Published
2026-01-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-conmatphys-031424-125004
Primary Topic
Granular flow and fluidized beds
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Modeling Granular Segregation: Insights from Four Decades of Research

Deepak R. Tunuguntla, K. M. Hill, Anthony R. Thornton, Benjy Marks et al.
Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics
Granular flow and fluidized beds
article

Modeling Granular Segregation: Insights from Four Decades of Research

Deepak R. Tunuguntla, K. M. Hill, Anthony R. Thornton, Benjy Marks, Lu Jing
article en

Abstract

In this review, we introduce granular materials as a condensed matter system and briefly discuss their general properties. We then focus on particle segregation in rapid, dense granular flows, a phenomenon that occurs more readily in granular materials than in other condensed matter systems. Our primary emphasis is on the development of continuum models to describe segregation in these systems. Over the years, numerous approaches have been proposed, each offering different perspectives on how to construct such models. Rather than providing an exhaustive review of any single approach, we compare and contrast various modeling strategies, highlighting their commonalities and respective advantages. By doing so, we aim to establish a clearer connection between different approaches, facilitating closer comparisons and potential synergies between them. We believe that bridging these approaches is essential for advancing our understanding and improving predictive capabilities in granular segregation modeling in the future.

Annual Review of Condensed Matter PhysicsVol. 17(1)
The University of Sydney (AU), University of Minnesota (US), University of Minnesota System (US), Saxion (NL), Saint Anthony College of Nursing (US), University of Manchester (GB), University Town of Shenzhen (CN), UNSW Sydney (AU), Tsinghua–Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (CN), University of Twente (NL)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 98%
Granular flow and fluidized beds
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