Researchers at UCLA engineering discover theoretical model to predict jamming

This new theoretical framework, the authors believe, can be applied to many different areas. Pharmaceutical companies can use the new equation to decide the size and quantities of pills that may or may not fit through a shoot that fills containers. Also, from knowing the fundamentals of jamming, scientists can now engineer materials that are both durable and strong. Instead of working with composites or alloys, the jamming theory provides a roadmap to tune material properties from pure substances.

“It can also help us to better understand certain diseases in medicine. In sickle cell anemia, for example, the abnormal blood cells are long and skinny, resulting in the obstruction of blood flow to various organs. Now we can do more to reduce the likeliness of death-threatening implications to benefit the medical community,” said Lu.

As a geologist who studies fault zones and earthquakes, Brodsky is particularly interested in the granular flow of gouge found in fault zones and having a formula to figure out when the rock is jammed and when it’s free flowing can be significant.

“Knowing how things flow and the granular behavior in a fault zone is one of the very important steps in trying to figure out how exactly faults slip,” said Brodsky.

The study was partially funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

The UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, established in 1945, offers 28 academic and professional degree programs, including an interdepartmental graduate degree program in biomedical engineering. Ranked among the top 10 engineering schools at public universities nationwide, the school is home to seven multimillion-dollar interdisciplinary research center in space exploration, wireless sensor systems, nanotechnology, nanomanufacturing and nanoelectronics, all funded by federal and private agencies. For more information, visit www.engineer.ucla.edu.