Numerical simulations of granular materials flow around obstacles

The two-fluid model was adopted to simulate the flow granular material. The influence of the gas phase on granular flow, as it is usually been neglected was considered. The three-dimensional governing equations of the flow field, which is developed when a granular material flows around obstacle located in a closed channel and interact with gas phase, were solved numerically using a Finite Volume based numerical code. The numerical predictions are compared qualitatively to experimental results from various sources and good agreements are obtained. Several cases, which differ by the channel geometry, were solved. The influence of the channel dimensions and wall friction on the granular flow was examined. The formation of bow granular shock wave in the front of the obstacle, under certain operating conditions, was evident. In other cases, where dense phase flows were evident, granular shock wave did not formed.