Rheology of granular media

This review is concerned with the physics of dry granular media which is th e focus of many recent studies. One reason for this interest is not only du e to its practical importance but also, because it is currently seen as a f undamental model with a rather broad range of applicability. The concepts a nd questions developed in this field have general implications in other fie lds such as the rheology of complex fluids (dense pastes or colloidal suspe nsions), the mechanics of various composite solids such as reinforced rubbe r, many geophysical situations and even the nano-tribology of molecular fil ms... We review some of the aspects that were most recently discussed and w hich are under the scope of an intense debate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Lt d. AIL rights reserved.