Simulation of the granular flow of cylindrical particles in the rotating drum

Abstract

This study aims at unveiling the effect of particle shape on granular flow behavior. Discrete element method is used to simulate cylindrical particles with different aspect ratios in the rotating drum operating in the rolling regime. The results demonstrate that the cylindrical particles exhibit similar general flow patterns as the spherical particles. As the aspect ratio of the cylindrical particles increases, the active-passive interfaces become steeper, and the number fraction, solid residence time, and collision force in the active region decreases. The mechanism underlying the difference is the preferential orientation, with particles of greater aspect ratios increasingly orientating their longitudinal axes perpendicular to the drum length. Also, particle alignment in the active region is more uniform than that in the passive region. The results obtained in this work provide new insights regarding the impact of particle shape on granular flow in the rotating drum.