Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mixing and segregation of freely-falling granular materials through a vertical pipe

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Granular Matter Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mixing and segregation of binary mixtures of freely-falling grains are demonstrated in a cylindrical pipe with an obstacle. Previously, the same setup was used to spatially focus monodisperse granular materials. As each grain is dropped one at a time from a random position at the entrance of the cylindrical pipe, it may collide with a steady or oscillating obstacle and the wall. We performed a time-driven multi-scale simulation and use Routh’s impact model for collisions to show that the focusing of grains for monodisperse granular materials is dependent on the geometry of the pipe, the elastic properties of the grain, and the amplitude of oscillation of the obstacle. For binary granular mixtures, segregation may be achieved when the elastic properties of the grain species have a big difference. However, the efficiency of segregation is diminished when the amplitude of obstacle oscillation is increased, leading to granular mixing. Just as a high degree of segregation can be attained with a stationary obstacle, a high degree of mixing can be obtained with a moving obstacle.

Graphic abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ottino, J.: Granular matter as a window into collective systems far from equilibrium, complexity, and scientific prematurity. Chem. Eng. Sci. 61(13), 4165–4171 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Jaeger, H.: Sand, jams and jets. Phys. World 18(12), 34 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Möbius, M.E., Lauderdale, B.E., Nagel, S.R., Jaeger, H.M.: Size separation of granular particles. Nature 414(6861), 270–270 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Balista, J.A.F., Saloma, C.: Modified inelastic bouncing ball model of the Brazil nut effect and its reverse. Granul. Matter 20(3), 47 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hong, D.C., Quinn, P.V., Luding, S.: Reverse Brazil Nut problem: competition between percolation and condensation. Phys. Rev. Lett. 86(15), 3423–3426 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rapaport, D.C.: Radial and axial segregation of granular matter in a rotating cylinder: a simulation study. Phys. Rev. E 75(3), 031301 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Pereira, G.G., Sinnott, M.D., Cleary, P.W., Liffman, K., Metcalfe, G., Šutalo, I.D.: Insights from simulations into mechanisms for density segregation of granular mixtures in rotating cylinders. Granul. Matter 13(1), 53–74 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Pereira, G.G., Cleary, P.W.: Radial segregation of multi-component granular media in a rotating tumbler. Granul. Matter 15(6), 705–724 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Finger, T., von Rüling, F., Lévay, S., Szabó, B., Börzsönyi, T., Stannarius, R.: Segregation of granular mixtures in a spherical tumbler. Phys. Rev. E 93(3), 032903 (2016)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Liao, C.C., Hsiau, S.S., Nien, H.C.: Density-driven spontaneous streak segregation patterns in a thin rotating drum. Phys. Rev. E 89(6), 062204 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Khakhar, D.V., Orpe, A.V., Hajra, S.K.: Segregation of granular materials in rotating cylinders. Phys. A Stat. Mech. Appl. 318(1–2), 129–136 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Jain, N., Ottino, J.M., Lueptow, R.M.: Combined size and density segregation and mixing in noncircular tumblers. Phys. Rev. E 71(5), 051301 (2005)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Džiugys, A., Navakas, R.: The role of friction in mixing and segregation of granular material. Granul. Matter 11(6), 403 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ciamarra, M.P., Vizia, M.D., Fierro, A., Tarzia, M., Coniglio, A., Nicodemi, M.: Granular species segregation under vertical tapping: effects of size, density, friction, and shaking amplitude. Phys. Rev. Lett. 96(5), 058001 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ulrich, S., Schröter, M., Swinney, H.L.: Influence of friction on granular segregation. Phys. Rev. E 76(4), 042301 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bantang, J., Lim, M., Monterola, C., Saloma, C.: Gravity-assisted segregation of granular materials of equal mass and size. Phys. Rev. E 66(4), 041306 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wang, Y., Mason, M.T.: Two-dimensional rigid-body collisions with friction. J. Appl. Mech. 59(3), 635–642 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Partridge, C.B., Spong, M.W.: Control of planar rigid body sliding with impacts and friction. Int. J. Robot. Res. 19(4), 336–348 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Sedgewick, R., Wayne, K.: Algorithms. Addison-Wesley Professional, London (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Seifried, R., Schiehlen, W., Eberhard, P.: The role of the coefficient of restitution on impact problems in multi-body dynamics. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part K J. Multi-body Dyn. 224(3), 279–306 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Valenzuela, J.F., Monterola, C.: Convective flow-induced short timescale segregation in a dilute bidisperse particle suspension. Int. J. Mod. Phys. C 19(12), 1829–1845 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Decraene, J., Monterola, C., Lee, G.K.K., Hung, T.G.G., Batty, M.: The emergence of urban land use patterns driven by dispersion and aggregation mechanisms. PloS one 8(12), e80309 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank DOST-SEI Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP) and University of San Carlos Office of Research for supporting this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of San Carlos, Gov. M. Cuenco Ave., 6000, Cebu City, Philippines

    J. L. O. Almerol

  2. National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, 1101, Quezon City, Philippines

    J. Y. Bantang

  3. Analytics, Computing and Complex Systems Laboratory, Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Asian Institute of Management, Makati City, 1229, Philippines

    M. P. Liponhay

Authors
  1. J. L. O. Almerol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Y. Bantang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. P. Liponhay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. P. Liponhay.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Almerol, J.L.O., Bantang, J.Y. & Liponhay, M.P. Mixing and segregation of freely-falling granular materials through a vertical pipe. Granular Matter 23, 18 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-020-01061-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-020-01061-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation