GOALI: Fine Particle De-Mixing in Granular Flows

The goal of this research is to develop a fundamental understanding of how fine particles segregate. We will use computer simulations, validated with experiments, to characterize the percolation of fine particles through flowing large particles, determine segregation parameters for fine particles, and examine the underlying physics of fine particle segregation at the particle scale. The resulting physical understanding of the flow and segregation of fine particles at both the particle and the flow levels will lead to a physics-based model for segregation of fine particles analogous to that recently developed for segregation of small particles.