Granular segregation in quasi-2d rectangular bin

Abstract

Experiments are carried out in quasi two-dimensional rectangular bin (two vertical glass plate separated by a gap of 10 mm) to study the effect of feed composition on segregation of granular mixtures during heap formation by intermittent feeding. The stainless steel (SS 316) balls of different sizes (1 and 2 mm) are used as model granular materials. The heap is formed by repeatedly pouring a fixed mass of the mixture. Each feeding results in the formation of a layer of the mixture on the surface of the heap. Results presented here are for binary mixtures with different size and equal density. Profiles of the number fraction of big particles along the flow direction averaged across the depth of the layer are plotted. In each layer formed by a pouring, segregation results in the small particles being deposited first. Thus, the small particles are concentrated in the upper part of the layer and the large particles in the lower part with a mixed region between the two. The extent of segregation is found to increase with decrease in concentration of big particles in the mixture. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.