Simulation study of the convection cells in a vibrated granular bed

The discrete element method (DEM) is employed to study the convection cells of glass beads in a two-dimensional vibrated granular bed. The flow patter n and velocity vectors are consistent with the former experimental results. The solid fractions and the granular temperatures are studied with differe nt vibration acceleration and vibration velocity. A power-law relation exis ts between the convection flow rate and the dimensionless vibration velocit y. The mass flow rate was found to increase with the bed velocity in a powe r-law relation, J proportional to V-b(2.3), and decrease with the bed veloc ity in a power-law relation, J proportional to V-b(-0.4), with a fixed vibr ation acceleration. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.