Welcome to the Micromechanics of Granular Media Group website!

Our research focuses on developing mathematical models for granular materials. These materials are ubiquitous in everyday life: they range from cosmetic powders to vitamin pills, from jelly beans to M&Ms, from beach sand to the rings of Saturn, and from breakfast cereals to interstellar dust. Understanding the fundamental behaviour of these materials can determine the success or failure of a vast number of man-made and natural processes. In fact, this class of materials ranks second, behind water, on the scale of priorities of human activities and endeavours. Hence, even a fractional advance in our understanding of how granular media behave can have a profound impact on our economic and general well-being. This is particularly true for Australia with its primary industries being heavily reliant on granular media. Australia is a leading exporter of major commodities such as coal (~ $9.3 billion per annum), iron ore (~$3.8 billion per annum) and wheat (~$3.4 billion per annum).

The MGM research group is led by Dr. Antoinette Tordesillas. Our group currently collaborates with engineering research groups from both Australia and the USA. Our group's research objective is to use mathematics to help solve engineering problems encountered in particulate science and technologies. We are a multidisciplinary team with backgrounds in areas encompassing applied mathematics, software engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, mechanics, and materials science. Our research has been funded by the Australian Research Council, the US Army Research Office, the US Army Corps of Engineers - Engineering Research and Development Center, and the Australian Academy of Science.