Numerical Modeling of Silo Filling. I: Continuum Analyses
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 125, Issue 1
Abstract
Two main computational methods have been used in recent years to model the behavior of particulate solids in silos. These are the finite element method and the discrete element method. To assess the current state of the art in the two methods applied to silo problems, and to evaluate their capabilities without bias, an international collaborative project was set up to compare predictions of several silo phenomena. The first of these computational challenges was deemed the simplest: that of filling a silo or container with particulate solid. This paper presents an overview of the findings of this first problem, based on a total of 38 independent calculations. Here the collaborative project is briefly outlined and some deduced outcomes from calculations by continuum analysts are compared. The results of discrete element calculations are described in a companion paper, which also compares the two methods and comments on their strengths and weaknesses.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 125 • Issue 1 • January 1999
Pages: 94 - 103
History
Received: Jun 25, 1998
Published online: Jan 1, 1999
Published in print: Jan 1999
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