| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/D030676/1 |
| Title: |
Mixing and segregation in polydisperse granular flows |
| Principal Investigator: |
Wildman, Professor R |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Mechanical and Manufacturing Eng |
| Organisation: |
Loughborough University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
11 October 2005 |
Ends: |
10 April 2006 |
Value (£): |
45,161
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Multiphase Flow |
Particle Technology |
| Rheology |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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One only has to walk through a supermarket to understand the role that powders play in our lives. From foodstuffs, to washing powders, to pharmaceuticals, powders are commonplace and are often produced as an intermediate stage between manufacture of the product and its use. By formulating a powder, or granular material, the manufacturer is able to transport and store their product in an efficient way. The beauty of granular materials is that they show evidence of being both liquid and solid like. If one places granular particles in a container, the behaviour is similar to a solid, but if one agitates the particles the granular bed shows behaviour similar to the everyday liquids we are all used to. We have now reached the point where we understand (relatively well) how very simple systems behave. An example of this is a system consisting of one size of particles being shaken in a container. However, when we introduce different sizes of particles into this flow we rapidly find that our predictions become inaccurate. Our proposed research aims to understand this more complex regime by performing a set of experiments, numerical simulations (modelling the motion of individual particles) and continuum theory (modelling of the whole system in terms of the average speed and energy of the particles). This approach will allow us to develop an understanding of the mathematical relationships that govern particle motion in a polydisperse system, providing us, and others in the community, with the opportunity to develop tools that can be used to predict powder and granular motion in such a way that we can control the many industrial processes that involve granular materials.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.lboro.ac.uk |