SIMULATION OF FILLING AND EMPTYING IN A HEXAGONAL-SHAPE SOLAR GRAIN SILO

Abstract

A new silo design for grain-storage is examined using a numerical procedure to model its 3D granular flows during the filling and emptying processes. The authors in Hemández-Cordero, et al. Korea-Australia Rheol. J. 12(1)269-281(2000)] have previously presented the design of the new silo and its observed flow behavior. Its main characteristic is the almost complete elimination of excessive dynamics stresses. Since the required computational resources to model the transient phenomena in these experiments are enormous, here, we present basic numerical results related to packing and dynamics of grains considering this complex design. Especial emphasis is given to simulate in great detail collisions of spherical grains with the walls, between themselves, as well as the complex geometry of the new silo, such as filling and unloading openings, inclined walls, etc. The interactions include compressive normal forces between grains as well as tangential forces involved in sliding and rolling between two kernels. Virtual contact mechanics valid in the vicinity of the symmetry plane of the silo are also prescribed, permitting predictions closer to experimentally observed behavior. In spite of the complexity of interactions, steady flow patterns results obtained with reasonable computational times are presented.