COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICAL APPROACH TO THREE-DIMENSIONALITY OF GRAIN SORTING

Abstract

The three dimensionality of grain sorting is investigated from a viewpoint of computational mechanics. The vertical sorting of mixed size grains under the uni-directional flow is simulated by the 3D numerical movable bed, which is based on the Distinct Element Method. The results of 3D model are compared with that of 2D model, to clarify the significance of the three dimensionality in the vertical grain sorting. The active transverse motion of grains is estimated through the time series of the gravity center of each class of grain by 3D model. Although the detail of the grain sorting, such as the transverse motion of grains, cannot be describe by the 2D model, the time series of volumetric ratio of each class of grain calculated by the 2D model shows fairly well agreement with that of 3D model.