Interface between fluid- and solid-like behaviour in rapid granular flows down bumpy inclines

Abstract

SUMMARYGravity-driven granular #ows down bumpy inclined surfaces were investigated. The #ows consist of a bottom region of an amorphous solid-like granular material interacting with a top region of rapidly agitated grains. Chou theoretically analysed these granular #ows by employing the constitutive theory, the corresponding boundary conditions and the continuity conditions at the interface. By making use of Chou's model, the research work reported here investigated the e!ects of the inclination, coe$cient of restitution and boundary geometry on the pro"les of solid concentration, mean velocity and granular temperature. The direction of the energy #ux at the bumpy surfaces, as well as the #ow depth for both the active and passive layers were also observed.