Parametric study of the clustering transition in vibration driven granular gas system

A parametric study of the clustering transition of a vibration-driven granular gas system is performed by simulation. The parameters studied include the global volume fraction of the system, the size of the system, the friction coefficient, and the restitution coefficient among particles and among particle–walls. The periodic boundary and fixed boundary of sidewalls are also checked in the simulation. The simulation results provide us the necessary "heating" time for the system to reach steady state, and the friction term needed to be included in the "cooling" time. A gas-cluster phase diagram obtained through Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test analysis using similar experimental parameters is given. The influence of the parameters to the transition is then investigated in simulations. This simulation investigation helps us gain understanding which otherwise cannot be obtained by experiment alone, and makes suggestions on the determination of parameters to be chosen in experiments. (paper)