SIMULATION OF BUBBLE FORMATION AND HEAPING IN A VIBRATING GRANULAR BED

Abstract

The Eulerian-Eulerian approach is used to simulate flow in a dense granular bed subjected to a slight, vertical, sinusoidal vibration. The bottom of the bed was subjected to a vertical vibration, ASin(ω v t)J 0(k m x), where J represents the profile of the bottom wall and is the first kind of Bessel function. The governing equations of the gas phase and particle phase are described and the results of the model with different vibration frequencies and amplitudes are presented. Bubble formation and upward and downward heaping were observed at different amplitudes and frequencies. The results of the model confirm that there is a change from upward to downward heaps according to the strength of the vibration. In addition, the location of the bubble and the shape of the heaping at the interface of the bed depend on the strength of the vibration and the profile of the bottom of the container.