Numerical simulation of two-dimensional steady granular flows in rotating drum: On surface flows rheology

Mathieu Renouf (1) , Daniel Bonamy (2) , Frédéric Dubois (3) , Pierre Alart (3)

1 SIAMES - Computer generated images, animation, modeling and simulation
2 SPCSI - Service de Physique et de Chimie des Surfaces et Interfaces
3 LMGC - Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil

The rheology of 2D steady surface flow of cohesionless cylinders in a rotating drum is investigated through {\em Non Smooth Contact Dynamics} simulations. Profile of volume fraction, translational and angular velocity, rms velocity, strain rate and stress tensor were measured at the midpoint along the length of the surface flowing layer where the flow is generally considered as steady and homogeneous. Analysis of these data and their inter-relations suggest the local inertial number - defined as the ratio between local inertial forces and local confinement forces - to be the relevant dimensionless parameter to describe the transition from the quasi-static part of the packing to the flowing part at the surface of the heap. Variations of the components of the stress tensor as well as the ones of rms velocity as a function of the inertial number are analysed within both the quasi-static and the flowing phases. Their implications are discussed.

Mots clés: Granular systems; Avalanches; Rheology; Numerial Simulations

Domaines: Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]

Mathieu Renouf, Daniel Bonamy, Frédéric Dubois, Pierre Alart. Numerical simulation of two-dimensional steady granular flows in rotating drum: On surface flows rheology. Physics of Fluids, 2005, 17, pp.103303. ⟨10.1063/1.2063347⟩. ⟨hal-00005748⟩