Simulation of silo discharge: influence of initial pore distribution

In this work, a numerical simulation for silo discharge processes including dynamic effects and stochastical initial pore distribution is developed. The approach includes an advanced nonlinear hypoplastic constitutive law for the bulk material behaviour. The initial stochastical arrangement of the particles is taken into account. So non-symmetric effects are calculable and, hence, more realistic flow can be analysed. The mechanical behaviour of the discharge process is described by a system of nonlinear differential equations in the EULERian reference frame. Then, via the FEM methodology, the velocity field of the flowing material, its density distribution in the silo, and also the pressure distribution on the silo walls can be calculated without the need of re-meshing the FE grid.