Robert P Behringer, J. B. Duke Professor (secondary appts: Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering & Material Sciences)  

Office Location: 095 Physics
Office Phone: (919) 660-2550, (919) 660-2553
Email Address: bob@phy.duke.edu
Web Page: http://www.phy.duke.edu/~bob

Research Categories: Condensed Matter

Research Description: Professor Robert P. Behringer is a James B. Duke Professor of Physics. Dr. Behringer's research interests include nonlinear dynamics and low-temperature physics. His studies of nonlinear dynamics include experiments on granular flow, on convection in liquid helium, as well as room temperature fluids, and on convection in porous media. His group has recently pioneered the use of magnetic resonance imaging and novel optical techniques to study flows in porous media. Novel experiments on the flow of granular materials such as sand have yielded new insights into the dynamics of this complex, technically important and intriguing system. Other experiments probe pattern formation phenomena in shear flows and in film flows. Experiments in low-temperature physics probe the unusual and striking properties of superfluid helium.

Teaching (Fall 2009):

  • Physics 201.01, Nonlinear/complex sys
    Physics 119, TuTh 02:50 PM-04:05 PM
  • physics 213.01, Nonlinear dynamics
    Physics 150, TuTh 08:30 AM-09:45 AM

Recent Publications   (More Publications)

  1. A. Tordesillas, J. Zhang, and R.P. Behringer, Buckling force chains in dense granular assemblies: Physical and numerical experiments, Geomechanics and Geoengineering (Accepted, 2008) .
  2. Lori Sanfratello, Eiichi Fukushima, and R.P. Behringer, Using MR Elastography to imge the 3D force chain structure of a quasi-static granular assembly, Granular Matter (Accepted, 2008) .
  3. Jie Zhang, Trush Majmudar, and R.P. Behringer, Force chains in a two-dimensional granular pure shear experiment, Physics of Fluids (Accepted, 2008) .
  4. J.-P. Matas, R.P. Behringer, Square subharmonic waves in a vibrated two-phase granular material, Europhys. J. E, vol. 25 (2008), pp. 431-438 .
  5. R.P. Behringer, B. Chakraborty and S. Henkes, Why Do Granular Materials Stiffen at Faster Shear Rates? A Test of Novel Stress-Based Statsitical Mechanics, Phys. Rev. Lett. (Accepted, 2008) .

Current Ph.D. Students   (Former Students)

Postdocs Mentored

  • Jie Zhang (2005 - present)  
  • Matthias Sperl (August, 2004 - November 28, 2006)  
  • Jean-Philippe Matas (2003/12-present)  
  • Brian Utter (2002/12-present)  
  • Karen Daniels (2002/12-present)  
  • Jeanman Sur (2002/12-present)  
  • Scott Paulson (2002/12-present)