Simulating granular flow with molecular dynamics

(Received 15 January 1992, accepted 22 January 1992)

Abstract
We investigate by means of Molecular Dynamics simulations an assembly of spheres to model a granular medium flowing from an upper rectangular chamber through a hole into a lower chamber. Two different two dimensional models are discussed one of them including rotations of the individual spheres. The outflow properties are investigated and compared to experimental data. The qualitative agreement suggests that our models contain the necessary ingredients to describe the outflow properties of granular media.