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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S50052/01
Title: Particle size segregation, mixing and pattern formation in rapid granular avalanches
Principal Investigator: Gray, Professor N
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Mathematics
Organisation: University of Manchester, The
Scheme: Advanced Fellowship (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 02 February 2004 Ends: 01 August 2009 Value (£): 237,465
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Continuum Mechanics Multiphase Flow
Numerical Analysis
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Environment
Food and Drink Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
19 May 2003 Maths AF Interview panel Deferred
16 Apr 2003 Maths Fellowships Deferred
Summary on Grant Application Form
This proposal plans to develop mathematical models, exact solutions and numerical methods for segregation and mixing in gravity driven avalanches and to validate the theory against laboratory experiments. This theory will then be used to investigate segregation and mixing in more complicated flows with fluid-solid granular phase-transitions, such as those that occur in industrial mixing tumblers and heaps. These flows have two distinct regions; there is a rapid fluid-like granular avalanche close to the free surface and a large region of solid-like granular material beneath. The interaction of these regions, combined with mixing and segregation within the avalanche, yields a rich dynamical structure that produces amazingly ordered and beautiful patterns in certain regimes and chaotic behaviour in others. Depending on whether the avalanche comes to rest by upslope propagation of a shock wave or by sedimentation into the underlying solid-like layer, different patterns are formed. The avalanche mixture model will be coupled to the solid-like granular material beneath, using jump conditions at the non-material singular surface between the two regions. A hierarchy of models is envisaged, starting with a simple mass coupling and leading up to the fully mechanically coupled problems. These models will be used to investigate the formation of Catherine wheel, radial segregation and mixing patterns in rotating tumblers, and stratification and segregation patterns in heaps.
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Organisation Website: http://www.man.ac.uk