A PHASE-DIAGRAM FOR SHEARED PARTICLE MODELS

We present a non-equilibrium phase diagram for a system of sheared par ticles showing the regions of the density versus shear-rate parameter space where a solid-like and fluid phase coexist. The phase coexistenc e is determined by direct observation of isokinetic sheared particle s imulations; these simulations indicate that there is a de facto Gibbs phase rule for this system. Though the interaction between the particl es is purely repulsive, we present evidence that the shear generates a n effective anisotropic interparticle cohesion. There is no indication of two fluid phases.