Flow fields and packing states in the discharge flow of noncircular particles—A SIPHPM simulation

Abstract Although the discharge flow of spherical materials has been extensively explored, the effect of particle shape on discharge is still poorly understood. The present work explores the two-dimensional discharge flow fields of noncircular particles using the soft-sphere-imbedded pseudo-hard particle model method. Rectangular particles having different aspect ratios ( R a  = 1, 1.5, 2–5) and regular polygonal particles having different numbers of sides ( N s  = 3–8, 10) are discharged through hopper beds having different orifice widths ( D i  = 40, 70.77, 99.13, 125.74, 151.13 mm). The discharge rates of differently shaped particles in different beds are consistent with Beverloo’s relation. Moreover, the flow fields are computed and evaluated to study the effects of R a , N s , and D i on particle discharge. The characteristics of particle–particle connections in the discharge process are evaluated according to the temporal evolution and spatial distribution of the contact points. Additionally, the effect of the initial packing on the discharge profile is investigated. The findings help clarify the discharge of noncircular particles.