Size Scaling of Velocity Field in Granular Flows through Apertures

TL;DR

This study proposes a size scaling model for the vertical velocity field in granular flows through apertures, validated by simulations, and connects to the Beverloo law for flow rate prediction.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new size scaling form for the velocity field in granular hopper flows, supported by DEM simulations, linking velocity profiles to flow rate laws.

Findings

Size scaling form for velocity field confirmed by simulations.

Flow rate expression matches Beverloo law for large apertures.

Vertical velocity at the center scales with the square root of aperture size.

Abstract

For vertical velocity field $v_{\rm z} (r,z;R)$ of granular flow through an aperture of radius $R$, we propose a size scaling form $v_{\rm z}(r,z;R)=v_{\rm z} (0,0;R)f (r/R_{\rm r}, z/R_{\rm z})$ in the region above the aperture. The length scales $R_{\rm r}=R- 0.5 d$ and $R_{\rm z}=R+k_2 d$, where $k_2$ is a parameter to be determined and $d$ is the diameter of granule. The effective acceleration, which is derived from $v_{\rm z}$, follows also a size scaling form $a_{\rm eff} = v_{\rm z}^2(0,0;R)R_{\rm z}^{-1} \theta (r/R_{\rm r}, z/R_{\rm z})$. For granular flow under gravity $g$, there is a boundary condition $a_{\rm eff} (0,0;R)=-g$ which gives rise to $v_{\rm z} (0,0;R)= \sqrt{ \lambda g R_{\rm z}}$ with $\lambda=-1/\theta (0,0)$. Using the size scaling form of vertical velocity field and its boundary condition, we can obtain the flow rate $W =C_2 \rho \sqrt{g } R_{\rm r}^{D-1} R_{\rm z}^{1/2} $, which agrees with the Beverloo law when $R \gg d$. The vertical velocity fields $v_z (r,z;R)$ in three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) hoppers have been simulated using the discrete element method (DEM) and GPU program. Simulation data confirm the size scaling form of $v_{\rm z} (r,z;R)$ and the $R$-dependence of $v_{\rm z} (0,0;R)$.