Gravity induced granular flow measurements in a 2D silo with a lateral bottom exit

Through the use of the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique, we have measured and analyzed the gravity-driven granular flow in a flat bottomed 2 D silo, with the exit hole located close to a vertical wall of the silo. Th e main properties of the unsteady flow like the intensity of the velocity f luctuations and the time averaged velocity field were determined. The globa l oscillations observed in a silo with the exit hole located at the center have not been detected in this case, being related to the larger mass flow rate obtained with the exit located far from the center. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.