Due to their non-spherical shapes and contact friction, particles rotate or roll along and over each other. This project will properly add the rotational degrees of freedom to existing coarse graining methods, apply those to some particulate flow problems (like low-p flow and compaction situations) and evaluate for which of these situations an improved micro-polar or Cosserat-type continuum theory is needed.

Specific objectives are:

1. Achieve macroscopic fields curvature and couple-stresses by including rotational degrees and torques in DEM and micro–macro formalism;
2. Use the model to understand local mechanisms such as shear bands that are strongly coupled to rotational degrees of freedom;
3. Validate the method in selected industrial processes (e.g. silo discharge).

Expected Results:

1. Micro-polar and Cosserat data from DEM simulations and proposed constitutive laws;
2. Continuum models of low-p slow flows with shear bands & agglomerates established, calibrated and validated;
3. Validation of improved models in silo discharge applications using pilot-scale silo at the University of Edinburgh.

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