Use of Particle Tracking Velocimetry for Measurements of Granular Flows: Review and Application

—Particle Tracking Velocimetry for Granular Flow Measurements—

Abstract

A brief review of publications that deal with particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) is presented first in this paper. It is followed by a brief review of papers that discuss the applications of PIV and PTV to granular flows. Next, the application of PTV to granular flows is demonstrated in the context of an experimental investigation of free-surface flows of almost spherical, slightly polydisperse, ceramic particles immersed in air. Flows of this granular material down the upper inclined surface of a wedge-shaped static pile of the same material, formed naturally and contained in a narrow channel between two parallel vertical glass plates are considered. Some sample results obtained from PTV measurements of these flows in the statistically steady and fully developed region are presented.