Abstract
Rheology analysis of granular flows is important for predicting geophysical hazards and designing industrial processes. Using a discrete element method, we simulate simple shear flows in 3D under a constant confining pressure of 10kPa. The inertial number proposed by the GDR MiDi group in France is adopted to distinguish rheology regimes. Both translational and angular velocity profiles are investigated, and both fluid-like and solid-like behavior modes are observed in the flows. The maximum angular velocity occurs near the localized deformation area. We also investigate the energy characteristics of the flows and find that at very small shearing speed, the mean kinetic energy density ek is close to zero, while the mean elastic energy density ec is much greater. At large shearing speed, ek increases. The fluctuating parts of the two types of energy increase with increasing shear speed. Thus, the mean energy density ratio ek/ec can be used in addition to the inertial number to distinguish flow regimes. These results provide insights from energetics into the rheological properties of granular flows.
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