Open Access

ARTICLE

Simulation of the Slow Drag of a Cylinder through a Confined Pressurized Bed of Dumbbell and Elliptically Cylindrical Granules Using the Discrete Element Method

Fuping Zhou¹, Suresh G. Advani², Eric D. Wetzel³

1 ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, 3120 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, Texas, 77098
2 Corresponding Author: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, 19716, USA. Tel: 1-302-831-8975; fax: 1-302-831-3619; Email: advani@udel.edu
3 Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2009, 39(1), 49-66. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2009.039.049

Abstract

Slow drag of a cylinder through a confined, pressurized bed of granules is studied using two-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) simulations. The time-dependent total drag force experienced by the circular cylinder is calculated from the normal and tangential contact forces between the surfaces. To evaluate the role of the granule shape and the aspect ratio on the drag force, the simulation is performed for cylindrical granules, dumbbell-shaped granules, and elliptical granules of three different aspect ratios. Simulation results show that the drag in dumbbell-shaped granules is higher than that in cylindrical granules. In contrast, the drag in elliptical granules decreases as the aspect ratio increases. The flow pattern in elliptical granules is also shown to be much more irregular compared with that of cylindrical and dumbbell-shaped granules.

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