CRITIQUE AND COMPARISON OF 2 STOCHASTIC THEORIES OF GRAVITY-INDUCED PARTICLE FLOW

Two stochastic theories of gravity-induced particle flow are compared and discussed: the subsidence theory developed by Litwiniszyn, and the steady-state flux theory independently developed much later by the author. Recent experimental evidence supporting the flux theory makes a clarification of the two theories desirable. It is shown that the subsidence theory contains internal inconsistencies. It turns out to be possible, however, to apply the powerful formalism, used by Litwiniszyn, to the flux (vertical component) rather than to the subsidence. This eliminates the inconsistency problem and results in a generalization of the steady-state flux theory. © 1979.