Modeling methods for gravity flow of granular solids in silos

Abstract

Abstract This paper provides a review on the flow of free-flowing particles inside silos. We have previously reviewed in detail the experimental studies in this field. In the present work, the focus is placed on the theoretical approaches allowing numerical simulation and modeling of these systems. Modeling of granular flow in silos is very significant due to the advantages of modeling compared to experiments. The simulation methods are divided into four main groups: analytical methods, finite element method, discrete element method, and hybrid models. In each section, the most significant researches are reviewed. The drawbacks and advantages of each method are discussed, and the effects of different parameters are reviewed. Finally, the perspective of future work and the main challenges in this area are discussed.