FE-studies on rapid flow of bulk solids in silos

• This paper contains results of numerical modelling of the onset of silo flow for granular material in a model silo with convergent walls. The calculations were performed with a finite element method based on a polar elasto-plastic constitutive relation by Mühlhaus. It differs from the conventional theory of plasticity by the presence of Cosserat rotations and couple stresses using a mean grain diameter as a characteristic length. The characteristic length causes that numerical results do not depend upon the mesh discretisation. The model tests on rapid silo flow of glass beads performed by Renner in a glass hopper with a large wall inclination from the bottom were numerically simulated. The FE-calculations were performed for plane strain by taking into account inertial forces and linear viscous damping. A satisfactory agreement between numerical and experimental results was obtained. In addition, the FE-calculations were performed for very rough walls. Advantages and limitations of a continuum approach for simulations of rapid silo flow were outlined.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Infrastrukturteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Infrastructure Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Structural Engineering

Konstruktionsteknik

Publication and Content Type

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