Discharge of a silo through a lateral orifice: Role of the bottom inclination versus friction
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Visualization of High Speed Liquid Jet Impaction on a Moving Surface
Published on: April 17, 2015
Z Zou1,2, P Ruyer1, P-Y Lagrée3
1Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSN-RES, SEMIA, LSMA, Cadarache, St. Paul-Lez-Durance 13115, France.
Abstract:
In this work we propose to identify the relative role of the inclination of gravitational acceleration and friction on the discharge flow rate of a granular media from a rectangular silo by varying the silo geometry thanks to an inclined bottom which ends up at a lateral outlet. The study is motivated by a nuclear safety problem: a fuel rod (modeled by an elongated silo) accidentally releases fuel fragments (modeled by grains). We performed experiments where we independently measured the mass flow rate and the velocity profiles, together with discrete particle simulations and continuum simulations with a frictional rheology described by a μ(I) constitutive law and taking into account the wall friction. We study monolayer flows and three-dimensional flows, and we propose an analytical model that predicts the discharge flow rate of particles from a rectangular silo with an inclined bottom according to its outlet aspect ratio and the bottom inclination angle.
Related Concept Videos
Underflow Gates
Energy Considerations in Open Channel Flow
Design Example: Forces in Sluice Gate
Key variables in...
Design Example: Designing Water Slide
Bernoulli's principle determines the water's velocity along the slide....
Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
General Characteristics of Pipe Flow II
The distance to reach a fully developed flow is called the entrance length and depends on the...

