SIMULATIONS OF FLOW PATTERNS IN SILOS WITH A CELLULAR AUTOMATON: PART 1

Abstract

A simplified cellular automaton was used to calculate the kinematics of non-cohesive granular materials during confined flow in silos. In this model, granular flow was assumed to be an upward propagation of holes through a lattice composed of cells representing single particles. Calculations were carried out with different silo shapes and inserts, transition probabilities, migration rules, outflow schemes, grid types, wall roughness and cell numbers. To visualize the calculation process, horizontal layers of various shades were introduced. The simulation results were compared with laboratory tests in model silos.

Keywords

• cellular automaton
• granular flow
• flow pattern
• insert
• silo