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arXiv · 1703.07395

Increasing granular flow rate with obstructions

Alan Murray·Fernando Alonso-Marroquin
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Abstract

We describe a simple experiment involving spheres rolling down an inclined plane towards a bottleneck and through a gap. Results of the experiment indicate that flow rate can be increased by placing an obstruction at optimal positions near the bottleneck. We use the experiment to develop a computer simulation using the PhysX physics engine. Simulations confirm the experimental results and we state several considerations necessary to obtain a model that agrees well with experiment. We demonstrate that the model exhibits clogging, intermittent and continuous flow, and that it can be used as a tool for further investigations in granular flow.

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Alan Murray, Fernando Alonso-Marroquin. 2017-03-21. Increasing granular flow rate with obstructions. https://doi.org/10.4279/pip.080003

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