Flow Behavior of Grains through the Dosing Station of Spacecraft under Low-Gravity Environments
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 30, Issue 6
Abstract
For the design of the grain-processing stations of spacecrafts, such as EXOMARS 2020, reliable estimates are required on the internal and bulk flow characteristics of granular media under low-gravity environments. Using theoretical and computational modeling, the authors present the results on the generic flow behavior of granular materials through flow channels under different gravity levels. For this, the authors use three approaches: (1) a simple one-dimensional discrete-layer approach (DLA) based on hybrid-Lagrange continuum analysis; (2) Kirya’s three-dimensional structural continuum model; and (3) three-dimensional discrete-element modeling (DEM). Each model has its merits and limitations. For the granular simulant considered in this paper, a good level of agreement is obtained between the results of Kirya’s model and the DEM simulations on the flow properties of the grains. Some qualitative comparisons are also reported favorably on the flow characteristics of grains between the results of the experimental parabolic flight campaign and the DEM simulations. The theoretical and DEM simulations presented in this paper could help to minimize relying on the complex experimental programs, such as the parabolic flight campaign, for evaluating the processing behavior of grains under low-gravity environments in the future.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This project was funded by the National Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation (MAARIFAH), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Award No. 12-SPA2925-02).
References
Albaraki, S., and Antony, S. J. (2014). “How does internal angle of hoppers affect granular flow? Experimental studies using digital particle image velocimetry.” Powder Technol., 268(1), 253–260.
Antony, S. J. (2007). “Link between single-particle properties and macroscopic properties in particulate assemblies: Role of structures within structures.” Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A, 365(1861), 2879–2891.
Antony, S. J., Arowosola, B., Richter, L., Amanbayev, T., and Barakat, T. (2016). “Modelling the flow behaviour of granular media through the dosing station of spacecraft under low gravitational environments.” Proc., Earth and Space Conf., ASCE, Orlando, FL.
Antony, S. J., and Kuhn, M. R. (2004). “Influence of particle shape on the interplay between contact signatures and particulate strength.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 41(21), 5863–5870.
Beverloo, W. A., Leniger, H. A., and van de Velde, J. (1961). “The flow of granular solids through orifices.” Chem. Eng. Sci., 15(3–4), 260–269.
Brucks, A., Richter, L., Vincent, J., and Blum, J. (2008). “Effect of reduced-gravity conditions on the flowability of granular media.” Earth and space 2008: Engineering, science, construction, and operations in challenging environments, K. W. Binienda, ed., ASCE, Reston, VA, 1–8.
Chung, Y.-C., and Ooi, J. Y. (2008). “A study of influence of gravity on bulk behaviour of particulate solid.” Particuology, 6(6), 467–474.
Cox, G. M., and Hill, J. M. (2005). “Some exact velocity profiles for granular flow in converging hoppers.” Z. Angew. Math. Phys., 56(1), 92–106.
Cundall, P. A., and Strack, O. D. L. (1979). “A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies.” Géotechnique, 29(1), 47–65.
de Gennes, P. G. (1999). “Granular matter: A tentative view.” Rev. Mod. Phys., 71(2), S374–S382.
Duran, J. (1999). Sands, powders, and grains: An introduction to the physics of granular materials, Springer, Berlin.
Hofmeister, P. G., Blum, J., and Heißelmann, D. (2009). “The flow of granular matter under reduced-gravity conditions.” AIP Conf. Proc., Vol. 1145, American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD, 71–74.
Kirya, R. V. (1999). “The kinetic approach to equations of flow of granular materials.” News Dnepropetrovsk State Univ. Mech., 2, 143–150 (in Russian).
Kirya, R. V. (2009). “The description of process of flow out of granular material from tank by structural-mechanical models.” Syst. Tech., 3(62), 3–19 (in Russian).
Kruyt, N. P., and Antony, S. J. (2007). “Force, relative displacement and work networks in granular media subjected to quasi-static deformation.” Phys. Rev. E, 75(5), 051308.
Le Pennec, T., Ammi, M., Messager, J. C., Truffin, B., Bideau, D., and Garnier, J. (1995). “Effect of gravity on mass flow rate in an hour glass.” Powder Technol., 85(3), 279–281.
Liu, Y., and Li, G. (2010). “Numerical prediction of particle dispersions in downer under different gravity environments.” Chem. Eng., 158(2), 281–289.
Lumay, G., Dorbolo, S., and Vandewalle, N. (2009). “Compaction dynamics of a magnetized powder.” Phys. Rev. E, 80(4), 041302.
Nakashima, H., et al. (2011). “Determining the angle of repose of sand under low-gravity conditions using discrete element method.” J. Terramech., 48(1), 17–26.
Nedderman, R. M. (1992). Statics and kinematics of granular materials, Cambridge University Press, Oxford, U.K.
Nguyen, T. K., Combe, G., Caillerie, D., and Desrues, J. (2014). “FEM × DEM modelling of cohesive granular materials: Numerical homogenisation and multi-scale simulations.” Acta Geophy., 62(5), 1109–1126.
Schulze, D. (2007). Powders and bulk solids: Behaviour, characterization, storage and flow, Springer, Berlin.
Schulze, D., and Schwedes, J. (1990). “Storage and flow of bulk solids in silos and information for planning new installations.” VGB-Kraftwerkstechmik, 70(9), 665–669.
Shterenliht, D. V. (1984). Hydraulics, Koloss, Moscow (in Russian).
Squyres, S. W., et al. (2004). “The Spirit Rover’s Athena science investigation at Gusev Crater, Mars.” Science, 305(5685), 794–799.
Sun, J., and Sundaresan, S. (2013). “Radial hopper flow prediction using a constitutive model with microstructure evolution.” Powder Technol., 242, 81–85.
Thomson, W. (1986). Introduction to space dynamics, Dover, New York.
Walton, O. R., and Braun, R. L. (1993). “Simulation of rotary-drum and repose tests for frictional spheres and rigid sphere clusters.” Joint DOE/NSF Workshop on Flow of Particulates and Fluids, USDOE, Washington, DC.
Walton, O. R., Moor, C. P., and Gill, K. S. (2007). “Effect of gravity on cohesive behaviour of fine powders: Implications for processing lunar regolith.” Granular Matter, 9(5), 353–363.
Wang, L. P., Carey, V. P., Greif, R., and Abdollahian, D. (1990). “Experimental simulation and analytical modelling of two-phase flow under zero-gravity conditions.” Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 16(3), 407–419.
Yen, A. S., Gellert, R., Schröder, C., and Morris, R. V. (2005). “An integrated view of the chemistry and mineralogy of Martian soils.” Nature, 436(7047), 49–54.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 2, 2016
Accepted: May 22, 2017
Published online: Sep 5, 2017
Published in print: Nov 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Feb 5, 2018
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.