Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/J11003/01
Title:	PREDICTION OF PRESSURE AND FLOW IN SILOS USING DISCRETE ELEMENTS
Principal Investigator:	Bicanic, Professor N
Other Investigators:	Owen, Professor DR
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Civil Engineering
Organisation:	Swansea University
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	15 June 1993	Ends:	14 June 1995	Value (£):	80,742
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Fluid Dynamics Multiphase Flow Particle Technology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The determination of design loads represents one of the principal problems in analysis of silos for strength and flow. Potentially most dangerous and most uncertain are wall pressures associated with eccentric flow configurations, as these lead to a loss of predominantly membrane behaviour of silo walls. Despite definite advances achieved by the finite element models (FE), there are considerable shortcomings associated, as an interface between the static and flow zone has to be defined a priori. Continuum framework of FE has only a limited capacity to model particle segregation, and characteristics of material flow during discharge. The discrete element method (DEM) represents a theoretical framework ideally suited to a number of problems related to silo design for strength and flow, as the method models the motion and interaction of particles of arbitrary shapes and sizes. An existing object oriented code in 2D developed for mine blasting simulations will be enhanced to include an improved contact model for ensiled materials in order to study 2D and 3D silo problems. It is anticipated that such DEM technology will provide a rational mean to investigate different segregation configurations, subsequent flow characteristics, as well as the silo and hopper wall pressures during various discharge regimes. Comparisons with the available experimental results will be made wherever possible.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk Summary Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.swan.ac.uk