Abstract

MURRAY, Alan  and  ALONSO-MARROQUIN, Fernando. Increasing granular flow rate with obstructions. Pap. Phys. [online]. 2016, vol.8, n.1. ISSN 1852-4249.

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.

Keywords : granular flow; physics engine.

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