Dense granular flow through a flat-bottomed silo: Comparison of the DEM and continuum models with experiments

Debnath, B and Kumaran, V and Rao, KK (2024) Dense granular flow through a flat-bottomed silo: Comparison of the DEM and continuum models with experiments. In: Powder Technology, 431 .

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Abstract

The gravity flow of granular materials through a flat-bottomed rectangular silo is examined using experiments, the discrete element method (DEM), and continuum models. The flow is bounded by four flat frictional side walls, and the mass flow rate is controlled by an exit slot. The velocity and wall stresses are measured simultaneously in a steady fully developed zone which occurs far from the upper free surface and the exit slot, and they are compared with predictions of the DEM and the continuum models. The scaled velocities measured adjacent to the front face are in excellent agreement with the DEM. The centreline velocity is predicted to within 5%–30% by the DEM for larger widths. The normal and shear stresses measured at the mid-plane of one of the walls agree to within 5%–20% for the DEM. The DEM results are less sensitive to the spring stiffness kn, but are more sensitive to the interparticle coefficient of friction μp. There are larger discrepancies in the predictions of the continuum models when the effect of the front and rear walls are not included. The approximate inclusion of the latter improves the prediction of the shear stress and the slip velocity. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Powder Technology
Publisher:	Elsevier B.V.
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to the Elsevier B.V.
Keywords:	Confined flow; Continuum mechanics; Forecasting; Friction; Granular materials; Shear flow; Shear stress, 'Dry' ; Continuum model; Dense granular flows; Discrete elements method; Dry grain; Flowthrough; Gravity flows; Mass-flow rate; Method model; Side walls, Finite difference method, article; controlled study; discrete element analysis; flow rate; friction; grain; gravity; prediction; rigidity; shear stress; spring; velocity; wall stress
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Chemical Engineering
Date Deposited:	30 Nov 2023 04:30
Last Modified:	30 Nov 2023 04:30
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/83328

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