Simulation of chute flow of soybeans using an improved tangential force-displacement model

Discrete element method (DEM) is widely used for the computer simulations of the motion behavior of granular materials. We use the DEM simulation with the improved tangential force-displacement model proposed by Vu-Quoc, L., Zhang, X., (1999) [Mechanics of Materials 31, 235-265] to simulate soybeans flowing down an inclined chute with a bumpy bottom. In the normal direction at the contact point between two particles, the bilinear force-displacement model proposed by Walton, O.R., Braun, R.L., 1986 [Journal of Rheology 30 (5), 949-980] is employed. Soybeans (non-spherical particles) are represented by clusters of spheres to simplify the contact detection. The simulation results such as velocity profiles are presented, and compared with corresponding experimental results. In addition, force statistics of the soybean flow that cannot be obtained using conventional experiments are extracted from simulation results and presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.