Pattern formation in a fully-3D segregating granular flow

Abstract

Segregation patterns of size-bidisperse particle mixtures in a fully-three-dimensional flow produced by alternately rotating a spherical tumbler about two perpendicular axes are studied over a range of particle sizes and volume ratios using both experiments and a continuum model. Pattern formation results from the interaction of size segregation with chaotic regions and non-mixing islands of the flow. Specifically, large particles in the flowing surface layer are preferentially deposited in non-mixing islands despite the effects of collisional diffusion and chaotic transport. The protocol-dependent structure of the unstable manifolds of the flow surrounding the non-mixing islands provides further insight into why certain segregation patterns are more robust than others.