Constitutive relations for granular flows
Lead Research Organisation:
Loughborough University
Department Name: Sch of Mechanical and Manufacturing Eng
Abstract
Particulate flows are found in a range of situations, both in nature and industry. Many processes in the pharmaceutical, foodstuff and chemical industries rely on particulates, since they are easier and cheaper to transport and store than many liquid based products. Due to this widespread use, there is alot of interest in understanding how to make these particlulate systems flow in a controlled fashion, so as to maintain product quality and minimise the energy used to move them. Models of these systems are generally based on ideas similar to those employed for liquids and gases, but it has been discovered that although these theories do a reasonable job, they are missing some key properties of particulate flows. In this project we will determine and validate the key constitutive properties of a granular flow, and enabling us to isolate the parameters that control particulate flow behavioiur for the first time.
Publications
VISWANATHAN H
(2011)
Convection in three-dimensional vibrofluidized granular beds
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Wildman R
(2012)
Experimental determination of temperature profiles in a sheared granular bed containing two and three sizes of particles
in Granular Matter
Description | The project identified the need to go beyond Navier-Stokes level analysis in order to understand the complex behaviour of granular mechanics. This is a consequence of the non-equilibrium nature of granular flows. |
Exploitation Route | This knowledge has been disseminated in a series of discussions with leading academic figures in the granular flow community. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Kumaran |
Organisation | Indian Institute of Science Bangalore |
Country | India |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Hosted visiting research fellowship for V Kumaran. |
Collaborator Contribution | V Kumaran made significant contributions to our wider understanding of granular flows and the development of software tackling this topic. |
Impact | No direct inputs, but V Kumaran played a key role in upskilling Loughborough in key elements of granular flow theory. |
Start Year | 2009 |