2011 Interdisciplinary Summer School: Granular Flows

Impacts and Asteroids

Olivier Barnouin, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Granular flows driven by the impact cratering process influence the geomorphology of various features seen on planets and asteroids. We will explore these surface features and use both empirical and numerical evidence to gain insights on how impact-derived granular flows might produce such features. We'll focus mostly on the ejecta emplacement processes on Mars, seismic shaking processes on asteroids, and the influence of pre-existing macroscopic target structure (which can be viewed as a large-grained granular system) on the overall cratering process.