Non-intrusive particle tracking system for particulate flows and vibrated granular beds

A unique, non-intrusive particle tracking system based on the principle of magnetic induction coupling is presented. In this system, small transmitter s are mounted inside the particle being tracked, and a set of receiving ant ennae surrounding the experimental apparatus. Based on the measured signals for induced voltages in the antennae, the three-dimensional trajectory of the particle is resolved by solving the inverse problem. The experimental s ystem development, including hardware and data acquisition aspects, is also described. The system was tested through test experiments which include a real time trajectory. The results indicate that a system with three mutuall y orthogonal transmitters provides accurate results. This system is ideally suited for experimental investigation of segregation in vibrated-beds. Res ults for such study of real trajectories of a single sphere rising in a mas s of other spheres in a vibrated bed are also shown to demonstrate phenomen a such as period doubling and bifurcation.