Conditions for collisional growth of a grain aggregate

Collisional growth of grain aggregates is a critical process in the early stage of planet formation. A collision between grain aggregates is numerically simulated by means of a smoothed particle hydrodynamic code, treating a grain aggregate as a continuum media. A model for mechanical response of a grain aggregate is developed based on published experimental data. Free parameters of the model are the bulk modulus, compressive, shear, and tensile strengths of a grain aggregate, and impact velocity. I have determined three conditions for the growth of an aggregate within the mechanical response model. (1) Compressive strength is the smallest among the three components of strengths. (2) Impact velocity is as low as 4% of the sound speed of an aggregate. (3) Effective restoration of the strengths is necessary due to reconnection between grains followed by compaction of an aggregate. Possibilities of these conditions in the solar nebula are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.