A perspective on vibration-induced size segregation of granular materials

Anthony D. Rosato, Denis L. Blackmore, Ninghua Zhang, Yidan Lan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

Segregation of particulate mixtures is a problem of great consequence in industries involved with the handling and processing of granular materials in which homogeneity is generally required. While there are several factors that may be responsible for segregation in bulk solids, it is well accepted that nonuniformity in particle size is a fundamental contributor. When the granular material is exposed to vibrations, the question of whether or not convection is an essential ingredient for size segregation is addressed by distinguishins between the situation where vibrations are not sufficiently energetic to promote a mean flow of the bulk solid, and those cases where a convective flow does occur. Based on experimental and simulation results in the literature, as well as dynamical systems analysis of a recent model of a binary granular mixture, it is proposed that "void-filling" beneath large particles is a universal mechanism promoting segregation, while convection essentially provides a means of mixing enhancement.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)265-275
Number of pages11
JournalChemical Engineering Science
Volume57
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 16 2002

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Keywords

  • Discrete element simulation
  • Granular materials
  • Microstructure
  • Nonlinear dynamics
  • Particulate
  • Segregation

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