The simulation and experimental study of granular materials discharged from a silo with the placement of inserts

The simulation method of DEM and experimental method are used to investigate the flow pattern of the filling and discharging process for two-dimensional plane silos. Two kinds of inserts (conical insert and BINSERT(R)) are used in the silo to change the flow fields of the silo. The placement of inserts improves the flow behaviors of funnel flow type to mass flow type during discharging, The wall normal stresses are influenced by the change of the flow type. The effects of using differently shaped inserts on the flow pattern and wall stress are analyzed in this study. The controlling parameters include the silo half-angle, the orifice width, the shape of the insert and the properties of the granular materials. The simulation and experimental results are in good agreement. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.