Abstract

SANCHEZ-GUZMAN, J  and  AUVINET-GUICHARD, G. Inherent Segregation in Granular Media. Ing. invest. y tecnol. [online]. 2011, vol.12, n.4, pp. 429-438. ISSN 1405-7743.

A study of the inherent segregation within granular media due to the relative size of the different particles is presented. A numerical model is used to simulate granular structures. For both simulation and granular structures evaluations, probability theory is widely used. Particles are idealized by disks (2D model) and spheres (3D model). Strictly uniform grain size materials, bimodal (two particle sizes) and continuous are simulated. Two variables representing segregation and allowing appreciating the grain-size parameters effects are considered. In uniform materials, the presence of spontaneous structuring is observed. In bimodal and continuous materials, inherent segregation mainly depends on the ratio between maximum and minimum diameters of particle. Some practical implications of inherent segregation in geotechnical problems and other disciplines are remarked.

Keywords : inherent segregation; simulation; probability; spontaneous structuring; diameter ratio; spatial concentration.