Discrete element method study of shear-driven granular segregation in a slowly rotating horizontal drum--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Chand, R., Muniandy, S. V., Wong, C. S., & Singh, J. (2017). Discrete element method study of shear-driven granular segregation in a slowly rotating horizontal drum. Particuology, 32, 89-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2016.05.014

Discrete element method study of shear-driven granular segregation in a slowly rotating horizontal drum

Ram Chand ^{a b *}, Sithi V. Muniandy ^{b c}, Chiow San Wong ^c, Jasbir Singh ^c

a Department of Physics, Government Girls Degree College, Jhudo, Mirpurkhas, Sindh, Pakistan
b Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
c Plasma Technology Research Center, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia

10.1016/j.partic.2016.05.014

Volume 32, June 2017, Pages 89-94

Received 9 March 2016, Revised 4 May 2016, Accepted 26 May 2016, Available online 16 November 2016, Version of Record 20 April 2017.

E-mail: ram.chand2k11@yahoo.com; ram_r25@hotmail.com

Highlights

• Shear-drive size segregation of binary granular particles in drum was simulated.

• Anti-spinning of side plates caused migration of smaller particles toward side-plates.

• Coefficient of friction on the side-plates caused more migration toward side-plates.

• Radial segregation was diminished in the system configuration.

Abstract

Segregation and mixing of granular materials are complex processes and are not fully understood. Motivated by industrial need, we performed a simulation using the discrete element method to study size segregation of a binary mixture of granular particles in a horizontal rotating drum. Particles of two different sizes were poured into the drum until it was 50% full. Shear-driven segregation was induced by rotating the side-plates of the drum in the opposite direction to that of the cylindrical wall. We found that radial segregation diminished in these systems but did not completely vanish. In an ordinary rotating drum, a radial core of smaller particles is formed in the center of the drum, surrounded by larger revolving particles. In our system, however, the smaller particles were found to migrate toward the side-plates. The shear from anti-spinning side-plates reduces the voidage and increases the bulk density. As such, smaller particles in the mixer tend to move to denser regions. We varied the shear by changing the coefficient of friction on the side-plates to study the influence of shear rate on this migration. We also compared the extent of radial segregation with stationary side-plates and with side-plates moving in different angular directions.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Granular flow; Discrete element method; Segregation; Side-wall shear; Rotating drum; Mixing

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