Optimum Chute Profiles in Gravity Flow of Granular Materials: A Discrete Segment Solution Method

Abstract

Using a single particle model and an assumed resisting force, the problem of finding the required shape of gravity flow discharge chutes to achieve minimum transit time is formulated by breaking up the path into a number of discrete segments. The method and a set of results are compared with an alternative procedure and solution obtained by use of Pontryagin’s minimum principle.