Abstract：The shear banding is explored in a granular suspension driven by electric field and shear flow. We find that, given an imposed electric field, there is a critical shear rate determining whether shear banding emerges. A phase diagram of shear banding and fluidization is constructed by using the present experimental data. The evolution in different shear banding phases constitutes an apparent shear thinning phenomenon, probably reflecting an underlying perspective of shear banding. Using the two-phase model, combining with mean field approach and the Onsager least dissipation principle, we give a qualitative explanation of our experimental findings. The results suggest that the stress heterogeneity plays a crucial role for the physical origin of shear banding in this system.
2013, Vol. 30 
