Densification under vibration of a saturated granular packing

We show experimentally that a vertically vibrated granular packing can be d ensified, even when saturated by a Newtonian fluid which reduces the effect ive buoyancy. Densification is slower than in a dry packing, due to viscous drag, but the final density is higher, due to lubrication. The evolution o f the packing density follows the global logarithmic time dependence observ ed with dry packings, but an additional density-dependent parameter had to be introduced. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et med icales Elsevier SAS.