ABSTRACT
In this paper, the applicability of a continuum mechanical approach using a visco-plastic constitutive model to granular flow in silos is shown.
During the discharge of silos many phenomena can be observed, which can only be explained considering the fluid-like behavior at the outlet. Due to the compressible and frictional behavior of granular materials a pulsating outflow occurs at the outlet with moving compression zones. Furthermore, the discharge might be prevented in the case of small hopper angles and highly frictional material by the formation of dead zones along the edges.
