Modelling of filling and discharge of granular materials in hoppers by discrete element method: optimisation of some flow parameters

Abstract

In this paper, the DEM model is applied for simulations of filling and discharge of granular materials in a wedge shape hopper and serves the base for optimization of flow parameters. Validation of presented DEM model was obtained by examination of the wall meassure and comparison with classical macroscopic pressure prediction. Actually, filling problem is considered as numerical generation of initial conditions for discharge flow. Multi objective approach was used for minimization of the discharge time and the discharge flow rate. The material discharge mass, the material- wall fiction and the shape of the hopper are considered as design variables. Variation of optimality criteria and Pareto is demonstrated by numerical results.