The mysteries of towers of sand
These observations, obviously quantified and expressed in mathematical formulae by the researchers, show that the growth dynamic of these types of tower depend on the phenomenon of liquid suction across the sand and the trapping of grains whilst the height of the structures characterizes the liquid content of the substrate. ‘It is thus,’ concludes Florian Moreau, ‘a possible method for studying the absorption processes and the mechanical properties of wet granular materials.’ This should be of interest to engineers, always looking for means to measure the cohesion forces at work within a heap of material. But this might also be of interest to zoologists interested by the shape of certain anthills constructed by ants which do not use saliva as a binding element. Why are they in effect sometimes of a conical type and sometimes in the form of towers? The difference might be in the degree of wetness… |
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© 2007 ULi�ge
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