Slow axial drift in three-dimensional granular tumbler flow

Zafir Zaman, Umberto D'Ortona, Paul B. Umbanhowar, Julio M. Ottino, and Richard M. Lueptow
Phys. Rev. E 88, 012208 – Published 29 July 2013
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Abstract

Models of monodisperse particle flow in partially filled three-dimensional tumblers often assume that flow along the axis of rotation is negligible. We test this assumption, for spherical and double cone tumblers, using experiments and discrete element method simulations. Cross sections through the particle bed of a spherical tumbler show that, after a few rotations, a colored band of particles initially perpendicular to the axis of rotation deforms: particles near the surface drift toward the pole, while particles deeper in the flowing layer drift toward the equator. Tracking of mm-sized surface particles in tumblers with diameters of 8–14 cm shows particle axial displacements of one to two particle diameters, corresponding to axial drift that is 1–3% of the tumbler diameter, per pass through the flowing layer. The surface axial drift in both double cone and spherical tumblers is zero at the equator, increases moving away from the equator, and then decreases near the poles. Comparing results for the two tumbler geometries shows that wall slope causes axial drift, while drift speed increases with equatorial diameter. The dependence of axial drift on axial position for each tumbler geometry is similar when both are normalized by their respective maximum values.

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  • Received 7 May 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.88.012208

©2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Zafir Zaman1, Umberto D'Ortona2, Paul B. Umbanhowar3, Julio M. Ottino1,3,4, and Richard M. Lueptow3,4,*

  • 1Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
  • 2Laboratoire M2P2, UMR 7340 CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université, 13451 Marseille Cedex 20, France
  • 3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
  • 4The Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems (NICO), Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA

  • *r-lueptow@northwestern.edu

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Issue

Vol. 88, Iss. 1 — July 2013

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