ENTROPY AND GRANULAR MATERIALS: MODEL

The macrostructure of a granular material is treated as an ensemble of microstates of like spheres where each microstate is identified by a coordination number and a corresponding porosity. The probability of occurrence of these finite numbers of microstates is constrained by measurable information concerning the macrostate and described by maximizing the information entropy subject to these constraints and the axioms of probability theory. The macrostate behavior is then deduced from the probabilities of occurrence of the microstates and their mechanical performance. Existing observations of phenomena in granular media as related to soils and liquids are discussed and explained in light of the proposed entropy maximization scheme. Critical tests to examine the viability of the entropy model are proposed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339399
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Brown, C B
• Publication Date: 2000-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 599-604
• Serial:
  • Journal of Engineering Mechanics
  • Volume: 126
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9399
  • EISSN: 1943-7889
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jenmdt

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Constraints; Entropy (Statistical mechanics); Granular materials; Granular soils; Mathematical models; Maximization; Probability theory; Soil mechanics; Tests
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Geotechnology; Highways; Pipelines; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00798347
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: CMS-9502123
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 7 2000 12:00AM