Experimental confirmation of secondary flows within granular media.

ABSTRACT: As collections of grains flow, free-surface deformations often develop. These typically suggest the presence of secondary flows, smaller in magnitude than the primary motion but driving complex three-dimensional internal structures. While one can infer such behaviour from boundaries or simulations, we have not previously been able to directly observe secondary flows experimentally. In this paper we present an experimental confirmation of secondary kinematics within granular media using dynamic x-ray radiography, without needing to stop motion for tomography. Specifically, we create a bulldozing mechanism of conveyor-driven grains. This generates a non-uniform, indented free-surface, hinting that secondary mechanisms are at play alongside the primary regime. Discrete element method simulati

SUBMITTER: Escobar A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12381182 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature