(70bb) Discrete particle simulation of granular flows in silos

A two-dimensional discrete element model has been developed for simulation of particulate material behaviour during gravity emptying of a bin. Laboratory experiments involving gravity flow of hollow circular particles from a parallel wall bin were carried out for different sample sizes and outlet widths. The motion of the particles was recorded with a high speed video camera during centric and eccentric unloading. Computer simulations were quite successful in matching most of the observed features of the physical tests.