Non-intrusive particle tracking system for particulate flows and vibrated granular beds

A unique, non-intrusive particle tracking system based on the principle of magnetic induction coupling is presented. In this system, small transmitters are mounted inside the particle being tracked, and a set of receiving antennae surrounding the experimental apparatus. Based on the measured signals for induced voltages in the antennae, the three-dimensional trajectory of the particle is resolved by solving the inverse problem. The experimental system development, including hardware and data acquisition aspects, is also described. The system was tested through test experiments which include a real time trajectory. The results indicate that a system with three mutually orthogonal transmitters provides accurate results. This system is ideally suited for experimental investigation of segregation in vibrated beds. Results for such study of real trajectories of a single sphere rising in a mass of other spheres in a vibrated bed are also shown to demonstrate phenomena such as period doubling and bifurcation.