Computer Simulation of Granular Shear Flows

Abstract

Detailed understanding of flowing granular materials is severly hampered by the deficiencies of present experimental methods. To help increase the information base, a computer simulation has been developed to describe two-dimensional unidirectional flows of inelastic fully rough particles. This paper presents the results of a Couette shear-flow simulation. The results include distributions of velocity, density and granular temperature (a measure of the kinetic energy contained in the random particle motions). The effects of density and shear rate on the granular temperature are explored. Shear and normal forces on the solid walls are compared with experimental and theoretical results. The behaviour of the particles in the simulated flow is examined and assessments are made of the collision angle and velocity distributions. The development of a distinct, 'layered' microstructure is observed in high-density granular flows.