Forces on Bins - The Effect of Random Friction

TL;DR

This paper investigates how random variations in friction affect the stress distribution in granular bins, challenging classical Janssen theory by incorporating stochastic friction into numerical PDE solutions.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical approach to include randomness in friction within the Janssen model, providing a more realistic analysis of stress in granular bins.

Findings

Random friction significantly alters stress profiles.

Numerical solutions reveal deviations from classical Janssen predictions.

The approach improves understanding of stress variability in practical bins.

Abstract

In this note we re-examine the classic Janssen theory for stresses in bins, including a randomness in the friction coefficient. The Janssen analysis relies on assumptions not met in practice; for this reason, we numerically solve the PDEs expressing balance of momentum in a bin, again including randomness in friction.