Effect of particle properties on particle percolation behaviour in a packed bed

Spontaneous inter-particle percolation is a very important phenomenon related to the mixing/segregation of particulate materials. Many studies have been conducted to understand the mechanisms governing the percolation behaviours in the past. However, previous work has a lack of systematic investigation on the effect of particle properties. In this work, a layer of small particles passing through a packed bed under gravity is analysed by means of the discrete element method. Percolation behaviour in terms of percolation velocity and radial dispersion is studied. The effect of percolating particle properties, including sliding friction and damping coefficients between percolating and packing particles, density and diameter ratios of percolating to packing particles and Young’s modulus of percolating particles, on the percolation behaviour is considered. It is observed that the damping coefficient and diameter ratio are the two dominant parameters that significantly affect the percolation behaviour. In particular, increasing the damping coefficient or decreasing the diameter ratio would increase the percolation velocity and decrease the radial dispersion. The sliding friction coefficient, Young’s modulus and density ratio have limited effects on the percolation behaviour. Two formulas have been, respectively, proposed to describe the dependences of percolation velocity and interaction force between percolating and packing particles on damping coefficient and diameter ratio.