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Granular flows down bumpy inclines

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5221101

We are concerned here with steady, fully developed, gravity-driven flows of smooth, identical spheres down bumpy inclines. We summarize the analysis of these flows carried out by Richman and Marciniec (1990), who employed a kinetic constitutive theory and replaced the solid volume fraction by its depth-averaged value wherever it occurred in the balance equations. In the same manner, we obtain approximate closed form expressions for the normal stress, shear stress, ans granular temperature, which when employed in the constitutive relations determine the solid volume fraction and mean velocity profiles. We then reparameterize the solutions to obtain, for fixed angles of inclination and boundary characteristics, the variations of mass flow rate with mass-hold up. In addition, we determine the corresponding variations of flow depth, depth-averaged solid volume fraction, and depth-averaged mean velocity. With the results presented in this manner, it is easy to make qualitative comparisons between predictions made by the theory and experimental results obtained by Johnson et. al. (1990).

Research Organization:
Worcester Polytechnic Inst., MA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC22-91PC90185
OSTI ID:
5221101
Report Number(s):
CONF-9110369-1; ON: DE92013568
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English