An experimentally accessible analog method for studying molecular hydrodynamic processes in dense fluids is presented. The technique uses particle image velocimetry of vibrated, high-restitution grain piles and allows direct, macroscopic observation of dynamical processes known and predicted to exist in strongly interacting, high density gases and liquids.
An analog, macroscopic method for studying molecular-scale hydrodynamic processes in dense gases and liquids is described. The technique applies a standard fluid dynamic diagnostic, particle image velocimetry (PIV), to measure: i) velocities of individual particles (grains), extant on short, grain-collision time-scales, ii) velocities of systems of particles, on both short collision-time- and long, continuum-flow-time-scales, iii) collective hydrodynamic modes known to exist in dense molecular fluids, and iv) short- and long-time-scale velocity autocorrelation functions, central to understanding particle-scale dynamics in strongly interacting, dense fluid systems. The basic system is composed of an imaging system, light source, vibrational sensors, vibrational system with a known media, and PIV and analysis software. Required experimental measurements and an outline of the theoretical tools needed when using the analog technique to study molecular-scale hydrodynamic processes are highlighted. The proposed technique provides a relatively straightforward alternative to photonic and neutron beam scattering methods traditionally used in molecular hydrodynamic studies.
Molecular hydrodynamics studies the dynamics and statistical mechanics of individual molecules and collections of molecules within fluids. Among the many experimental techniques developed for studying molecular hydrodynamic systems1,2, light scattering1,2,3, molecular dynamic simulations4,5,6,7 and, to a lesser extent, inelastic neutron scattering8 have been most commonly used. Unfortunately, significant limitations attach to the latter two techniques. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, for example: i) are limited to small spatial and temporal domains containing relatively few molecules , ii) require use of approximate inter-particle potentials, iii) typically introduce periodic boundary conditions, invalid under non-equilibrium bulk flow conditions, and iv) cannot, at present, answer the fundamental question of how molecular-scale dynamics, involving either single molecules or collections of molecules, are affected by, and couple back to, bulk, non-equilibrium fluid flow. The main limitation associated with neutron scattering is tied to the difficulty of accessing the limited number of neutron beam sources available.
In order to provide context for the analog experimental technique presented in this article, we highlight light scattering techniques applied to simple dense-gas and liquid-state fluids. In a typical light scattering experiment, a polarized laser light beam is directed to a small interrogation volume containing a stationary fluid sample. Light scattered from molecules within the sample is then detected at some fixed angle relative to the incident beam. Depending on the molecular dynamic regime of interest, detection and analysis of the scattered light signal incorporates either light filtering or light mixing detection methods. As outlined by Berne and Pecora1, filtering techniques, which probe fluid state molecular dynamics on time scales shorter than s, introduce a post-scattering interferometer or diffraction grating, and allow scanning of the spectral density of the scattered light. Optical mixing techniques, used for slow-time-scale dynamics, s, by contrast, incorporate a post-scattering autocorrelator or spectrum analyzer, in which the spectral content of the scattered signal is extracted from the measured scattered light intensity.
Generally, laser probes, at least those operating in the visible range of the spectrum, have wavelengths much longer than the characteristic spacing between liquid-state molecules. Under these circumstances, the probe beam excites five collective, slow-time-scale, long-wave-length hydrodynamic modes2,9,10 (slow relative to the characteristic collision frequency): two viscously damped, counter-propagating sound waves, two uncoupled, purely diffusive vorticity modes, and a single diffusive thermal (entropy) mode. The sound modes are excited in the (longitudinal) direction of the incident beam, while the vortical modes are excited in the transverse direction.
Considering purely experimental scattering techniques, two fundamental questions, lying at the heart of the equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of molecular, liquid-state systems, remain beyond light and neutron scattering measurements:
1) Rigorous arguments9,11 show that the random, collision- and sub-collision-time-scale dynamics of individual liquid-state molecules, subject to either classical Newtonian dynamics or quantum dynamics, can be recast in the form of generalized Langevin equations (GLE). GLE's, in turn, comprise a central theoretical tool in the study of the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of molecules in dense gases and liquids. Unfortunately, since the dynamics of individual (non-macromolecular) molecules cannot be resolved by either scattering technique, there is presently no direct way, beyond MD simulations, to test the validity of GLE's.
2) A fundamental hypothesis lying at the heart of macroscopic continuum fluid dynamics, as well microscale molecular hydrodynamics, posits that on length- and time-scales large relative to molecular diameters and collision times, but small relative to continuum length- and time-scales, local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) prevails. In continuum flow and heat transfer models, like the Navier-Stokes (NS) equations, the LTE assumption is required9 in order to couple intrinsically non-equilibrium, continuum-scale flow and energy transport features — like viscous shear stresses and thermal conduction — to strictly equilibrium thermodynamic properties, like temperature and internal energy. Likewise, while microscale momentum and energy transport are intrinsically non-equilibrium processes, reflecting the appearance of coupled, microscale mass, momentum, and energy currents, models of these microscale processes assume that the currents represent small perturbations from LTE9. Again, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no direct experimental tests of the LTE assumption. In particular, it appears that no molecular hydrodynamic scattering experiments have been attempted within dense, moving, non-equilibrium fluid flows.
In this paper, we outline an analog experimental technique in which the macroscopic, single particle and collective particle dynamics of vibrated grain piles, measured using standard Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV), can be used to indirectly predict, interpret, and expose single- and multi-molecule hydrodynamics in dense gases and liquids. The physical and theoretical elements that enable the proposed technique are stated in a recent paper published by our group12. Experimentally, the macroscopic system must exhibit: (i) a sustained tendency toward local, macroscale statistical mechanical equilibrium, and (ii) small, linear departures from equilibrium that mimic (weak) non-equilibrium fluctuations observed in molecular hydrodynamic systems. Theoretically: (i) classical microscale models describing the equilibrium and weakly-non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of dense, interacting N-particle systems must be recast in macroscale form, and (ii) the resulting macroscale models must reliably predict single- and multiple-particle dynamics, from short, particle-collision-time-scales to long, continuum-flow-time-scales.
Here, we present a detailed experimental protocol as well as representative results obtained by the new technique. In contrast to MD simulations and light and neutron scattering methods, the new technique allows, for the first time, detailed study of molecular hydrodynamic processes within flowing, strongly non-equilibrium, dense gases and liquids.
1. Preparation of Vibratory System
2. High Speed Imaging
NOTE: For grain velocity field measurements, obtained by imaging a portion of the surface of the flowing grain pile, the imaging area, corresponds to the field of view (FOV) determined in step 2.2.4 below. Measurement of time-varying, individual grain velocities (at the pile surface) can be obtained by choosing a small, fixed sub-area, , within where, as detailed below, is on the order of the projected area of an individual grain.
3. Gathering Data
NOTE: If the protocol was paused, the camera will need to be restarted. Follow step 3.1. If protocol was not paused, skip to step 3.1.2.
4. Process Video Data with PIV
5. Process Vibrational Data
NOTE: Step 5 may be done simultaneously with Step 4 if different computer systems or analysis software is used.
In presenting representative results, we refer to continuum-time-scale processes as those observed and predicted over time-scales, that are long relative to the characteristic grain collision time scale, and particle-time-scale processes as those observed and predicted over time-scales, , that are on the order of, or smaller than where is the vibration frequency of the grain media container.
The proposed technique provides simultaneous, integrated, superposed experimental information on single-particle and multiple-particle, random and time-averaged dynamics extant over time scales ranging from the inverse PIV camera sample rate, to the length of any given experimental run, For the results presented here, camera frames per second and = 10.12 s.
The results are organized as follows. First, we show, using a representative video clip, that all measurements are obtained under strongly non-equilibrium conditions in which the vibrated grain media move in collective, fluid-like flow; see Supplemental Movies 1a-c . The existence of local thermodynamic equilibrium, LTE, observed at an arbitrary, spatially limited camera interrogation area on the surface of the granular flow, is then demonstrated; see Figure 3. Evidence of weak non-equilibrium departures from LTE — taking place on individual particle scales, and produced by the cyclic injection of vibrational energy into the grain media — is then presented; see Figure 4. Finally, as a means of demonstrating that long-time-scale, non-equilibrium granular flows can be reasonably predicted using coarse-grained versions of exact, discrete, particle-scale mass and momentum conservation laws, here, the Navier-Stokes (NS) equations, we present a comparison of observed time-averaged grain flow fields against those predicted by the NS equations; see Figure 6.
In our experiments, we investigate the vibration-driven dynamics of eight different grain media, each media type characterized by a given shape, or mixture of shapes, mass density, and characteristic, fixed set of dimensions. In all experiments, the media bowl is filled with a fixed total mass of grain media, and the vibration frequency and amplitude of the bowl are fixed at 29.3 Hz and 2 mm, respectively. As depicted in supplemental movie 1a, observed grain flow patterns, are for all eight media, qualitatively similar: a slow, steady, three-dimensional helical flow, reflecting a dominant, radially-inward component, in which media flows from the outer bowl boundary radially inward toward the bowl's inner boundary, combined with a weak azimuthal component. Thus, in contrast to light- and neutron-scattering measurements, measurements of single-particle- and multi-particle-scale statistical mechanics must here be carried out in the presence of non-equilibrium flow.
Vibrated grain systems allow what we believe to be the first experimental demonstration of local thermodynamic equilibrium within non-equilibrium fluid flows. As shown in Figure 3, normalized histograms of measured horizontal peculiar grain speeds, obtained at a fixed 4 mm x 4 mm interrogation area on the grain pile surface, are well-fit by Maxwell-Boltzmann (MB) distribution functions. MB distributions, in turn, provide strong evidence of several fundamental dynamical properties: i) they are consistent with the existence of collision-time-scale (dissipationless) Hamiltonian dynamics, ii) they are likewise consistent with existence of velocity-independent interparticle potential energies, as well as a potential-independent kinetic energies, and iii) they provide strong evidence of local, macroscopic, mechanical equilibrium. Importantly, all of these features can be interpreted as macroscale embodiments of dynamical properties traditionally assumed in equilibrium liquid-state molecular hydrodynamic systems.
In order to expose the statistical mechanics of individual grains, the local peculiar grain velocity must be extracted from the measured local grain velocity: i) First, periodic spectral components within the local measured velocity, reflecting solid-like elastic vibration of the grain pile, must be filtered from the (PIV-) measured, time-varying velocity observed at the interrogation point. ii) Next, the local filtered velocity record, representing the purely fluid-like flow component of the grains' dynamics, is used to determine the local, time average velocity (over the entire experimental period, iii) Finally, the local average (filtered) velocity is subtracted from the time-varying local filtered velocity. The resulting time-varying velocity record thus represents the local peculiar fluid velocity, as observed at the interrogation point.
Beyond a tendency to revert, at all locations, toward LTE, macroscopic dynamical systems – if they are to serve as true analogs of liquid-state molecular hydrodynamic systems – must possess a second set of crucial property: weak random fluctuations from local equilibrium, taking place on collision and sub-collision-time-scales, that are consistent with generalized Langevin dynamics. Here, as shown in Figure 4, the normalized single-grain (peculiar) velocity autocorrelation function, , exhibits the same qualitative structure long-predicted in MD simulations of dense gases and liquids2,13: i) a rapid, non-exponential, sub-collision-time-scale decay to slightly negative values, followed by ii) an extended, slow, approach back toward zero. Physically, and again consistent with MD-predicted single-molecule dynamics in dense fluids2,4 the long negative tail in shown in Figure 4 appears to reflect the collective influence of neighboring grains on the motion of individual grains12. In theoretical terms, the short-time-scale temporal structure of is fully consistent with, and explainable in terms of, generalized Langevin dynamics2.
Another dynamical ingredient necessary to establishing a predictive macroscopic analog to liquid-state molecular hydrodynamic systems centers on collective hydrodynamics. First, on long time-scales – long relative to – and on large length-scales – large relative to the characteristic grain dimension, – macroscopic system hydrodynamics must exhibit the same modal response structure predicted and observed in liquid-state molecular systems2,9,10. As noted above, the response of dense fluid systems to both spontaneous fluctuations and externally-imposed disturbances – for example, particle beams in scattering experiments and small-amplitude vibrations in our experiments – consists of two viscously-damped counter-propagating sound modes, two, uncoupled, diffusive vortical modes, and a diffusive thermal (entropy) mode. Second, the long-time-scale, large-length-scale collective dynamics of macroscopic N-particle systems must – as molecular systems do – follow the NS equations (including, again, mass and energy conservation).
At present, with respect to macroscopic modal response, we have only indirect experimental evidence of damped fluid-state acoustic modes: as shown in Figure 5, solid-state acoustic standing waves, driven at the imposed vibration frequency, as well as at harmonics of are observed in our vibrated grain piles. Unfortunately, due to limitations in the present experimental system, we do not observe acoustic modes in spectra of the local peculiar fluid velocity. In order to excite such modes, new experiments will be carried out in which the media bowl will be subject to cyclic impact. Based on the unambiguous existence of solid-state acoustic modes, we anticipate that this approach will expose fluid-state acoustic modes.
By contrast, we have strong evidence that the collective, macroscopic, long-time and large-scale dynamics of vibrated grain piles do obey the NS equations. As shown in Figure 6, PIV-measured steady state velocity distributions measured on the surface of a vibrated pile are well predicted by the NS equations14. Here, as detailed in Mullany et al.14, the equations are solved numerically within a rectangular, two-dimensional domain corresponding to the surface FOV used in PIV velocity field measurements14. The simulations use experimentally measured effective grain viscosities and impose spatially-varying velocity boundary conditions, determined by PIV measurements, on three of four domain boundaries. Although the simulation assumes strictly two dimensional flow, where the actual flow is three-dimensional, and neglects the presence of the media bowl's central hub (the latter giving the bowl a donut/toroidal shape), average errors between predicted and actual velocity magnitudes are only on the order of 15%.
Figure 1: Vibratory System Experimental Set-Up with Camera and Lighting. This system consists of an annular polyurethane bowl having an outer diameter of 600 mm, with a single-speed (1740 rpm), unbalanced motor. The camera and lighting system are suspended above the vibratory bowl and attached to support structures or tripods not in contact with the vibratory system. This ensures that the motion of the bowl does not cause movement in the camera or the light. The peristaltic pump provides steady fluid flow to lubricate the media. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Supplemental Movie 1: Typical Grain Flow Video. (a) A typical clip of the grain flow as captured by the high speed camera. (b) Slow motion video of media undergoing tangential flow around a stationary workpiece (c) Slow motion video of media undergoing normal flow into a stationary workpiece. The PIV-measured velocity fields in (c) are compared against theoretically computed velocity fields in Figure 6. Please click here to download these files.
Figure 2: Example Processing and Post Processing Images. (a) A typical FOV single image taken by the high speed camera. (b) A typical calibration image with a scaled ruler. (c) Zoomed in view of velocity vector map overlaid on the first frame of the double frame images used to calculate the vectors. The vectors represent the particle movement between first and second frames of the double frame. The velocity ranges from ~0 m/s (dark red) to 0.17 m/s (yellow) in this figure. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3: Experimental evidence of local statistical mechanical equilibrium. Distributions of horizontal peculiar (random) grain speeds, measured at the point shown in (f), are fit by two dimensional Maxwell-Boltzmann (MB) speed distributions. (a-e) depicts Speeds (v), and probability density functions (pdf) are in units of cm s-1 and s cm-1, respectively, and the red scales represent 1 cm by grain type. The grains shown are: (a) RS19K; (b) mixed media; (c) RS1010; (d) RCP0909; and (e) RS3515. This figure has been modified from Keanini et al. in Science Reports (2017)12. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 4: Single grain, short-time-scale dynamics. The velocity autocorrelation function, , for single grains, plotted as a function of the characteristic number of grain collisions, , where t is the time lag and is the vibration frequency. Collision-time-scale, single grain dynamics exhibit trends qualitatively mimicking those predicted in molecular liquids and dense gases, including: (i) trapped particle dynamics, here determined by the continuum response of the grain fluid to vibrational forcing12, (ii) rapid, non-exponential decay in , consistent with generalized Langevin dynamics12, and (iii) manifestation of dense gas, liquid, and mixed liquid-solid thermodynamic phases12. This figure has been modified from Keanini et al. in Science Reports (2017)12. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 5: Vibrational response to vibration. Amplitude spectra15, determined from local PIV grain velocity measurements and from simultaneous container acceleration measurements, are shown in (a and b), respectively. The PIV measurement location is shown in Figure 3f; grain container accelerations are obtained from the exterior of the container. Resonant acoustic waves within the grain pile-container system, manifested by peaks in the spectrum (a), nominally coincide with resonant acoustic modes excited within the empty container, shown in (b). The fluid dynamics of both individual grains and of the entire grain pile are exposed by filtering the solid-like acoustic response. This figure has been modified from Keanini et al. in Science Reports (2017)12. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 6: Comparison between PIV measured and PIV predicted velocity fields. (a) PIV- measured velocity field for normal flow around a stationary workpiece (FOV has been limited to 91 mm x 198 mm to match the CFD specified area) overlaid on image of vibrating media used to create the vector map ; (b) CFD-predicted velocity field for normal flow around stationary workpiece. This figure 6b has been modified from the MSME thesis of J. Navare16. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
In order to use vibrated grain piles as macroscopic analogs for investigating molecular hydrodynamic processes, an experimentalist must, on one hand, learn and use four basic measurements, and on the other, master a few basic elements of equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. Focusing first on experimental measurements, these include: i) measurement of individual grain dynamics through measurement of the single-particle velocity autocorrelation function, ii) measurement of time-average/long-time-scale surface grain velocity fields, iii) measurement of grain media effective viscosities, and iv) measurement of the vibration spectra of the media bowl, both empty and filled with media.
Measurement of single particle velocity autocorrelation function
The random dynamics of individual particles, either molecules in microscale systems or vibrated grains in the present method, are studied via measurement of the single particle velocity autocorrelation function, 2. For small, e.g., diatomic and triatomic molecules, in molecular liquids can only be determined through MD simulation2,6,7. By contrast, for individual grains in liquid-like vibrated grain piles can be experimentally determined. Specifically, in order to reliably measure , the number of images, obtained for any given grain passing through the chosen (camera) interrogation area, should be on the order of, or should exceed the characteristic number of grain collisions, required for to decay from an initial magnitude of 1, , to some small, near-zero magnitude. For grains that exist in an effective liquid state12, decays rapidly to slightly negative magnitudes – see, e.g., Figure 4 – and then slowly reapproaches zero. Under these circumstances, can be estimated as the characteristic number of grain collisions that occur up to the instant, when thus, where is the imposed grain bowl vibration frequency. Finally, can be estimated as where represents either the side-length of the (square) interrogation area, or a characteristic dimension associated with is the (PIV-) measured time-average velocity magnitude at the centroid of and is the camera frame rate. Note, in our experiments, , so that and, thus,
Measurements required to expose granular liquid state hydrodynamics
Elastic wave modes, specifically phonon modes, excited by both external means and by random thermal fluctuations, are known to exist in liquids17,18. As shown in Figure 5, vibrated grain piles likewise exhibit solid-like elastic response to vibrational forcing. In order to isolate the fluid-like properties of a vibrated grain pile, two measurements must be performed: i) elastic wave modes within the pile must be identified by measuring the acceleration spectrum of the media container, under both (media-) loaded and unloaded conditions, and ii) the time-average grain velocity must be measured, either at the centroid of a small interrogation area if investigating liquid-state dynamics of individual grains, or over a (much) larger interrogation area if studying the collective, continuum dynamics of the grain fluid flow field.
Once these measurements are obtained, and then as detailed in Keanini et al.12, the purely elastic/solid-like spectral components of the PIV-measured total velocity – either for single grains or for collections of grains – is filtered from the measured spectra of the total, location- and time-dependent velocity. Importantly, the result is assumed to represent the purely fluid-like dynamics of the vibrated grains. Given the location- and time-dependent filtered grain fluid velocity – at a point or over an extended area – then, depending on the task, a number of straightforward data processing procedures can be performed. For example, if one is interested in comparing observed continuum grain flow fields against those predicted by a given hydrodynamic model, e.g., the NS equations, and then the location-dependent time-average velocity field can be determined by simply computing the time average of each location-dependent, time varying, filtered velocity. See, for example, Figure 6, above. If the dynamics of the location-and time-dependent peculiar, i.e., random velocity field are of interest, the location-dependent time-average (filtered) velocity is subtracted from the location- and time-dependent (filtered) total velocity. This processing step is required, for example, in order to determine single particle velocity autocorrelation functions, See for example, Figure 4.
Finally, the effective dynamic or kinematic viscosity, or where and is the effective grain fluid density14 represents the central non-equilibrium hydrodynamic transport property associated with vibrated grain flows. For example, experimentally- or theoretically-determined values of or are required in computational hydrodynamic simulations of grain flows. From a fundamental standpoint, experimental values of or are needed in order to validate statistical mechanical predictions of these properties12. Importantly, our group will soon report a straightforward viscometric technique for measuring effective dynamic and kinematic viscosities for a large family of vibrated grains, as observed in our experimental system.
Theoretical elements
In this section, we highlight a minimal set of theoretical ideas and methods an experimentalist should become acquainted with when attempting to use vibrated grain piles as an analog for studying and predicting the molecular hydrodynamics of molecular liquid systems. The following applies to classical, as opposed to quantum liquid systems; suggested references are, in most cases, representative of large numbers of papers, monographs, and books. These ideas and methods are most commonly separated into two categories, equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of N-particle systems.
In equilibrium statistical mechanics, the experimentalist needs to first model the system Hamiltonian19. The Hamiltonian describes the collision- and sub-collision-time-scale dynamics of the N-particle system, and typically consists of a term modeling the system's total translational kinetic energy, a term modeling the system's total potential energy, and in cases where particles undergo significant rotational motion, a term capturing the total rotational kinetic energy. In order to connect the Hamiltonian dynamics of the N-particle system to associated equilibrium thermodynamic functions, such as the system internal energy, or the effective system temperature or pressure, one typically next chooses an appropriate statistical ensemble. For N-particle systems, such as those studied in this paper, which are excited by a nominally fixed source of energy – here, multimodal vibration produced by a single frequency motor – the fixed energy microcanonical ensemble19,20,21 is appropriate. However, since thermodynamic calculations, such as calculation of the system entropy, are typically difficult in this ensemble, the canonical ensemble19 is generally a better choice and, moreover, produces the same equilibrium thermodynamic functions obtained via the microcanonical ensemble.
Given the system Hamiltonian and a chosen statistical ensemble, one then constructs the system partition function Q = Q (N, V, T)19,23, where V and T are the system's equilibrium volume and temperature. Physically19,23, Q contains all possible energy states, that, in principle, are accessible to the system. Practically, given Q, and given the so-called Bridge Relations19,23 connecting discrete N-particle system dynamics to an equilibrium thermodynamic function19,23, and then all equilibrium thermodynamic properties associated with the N-particle system can be calculated. We highlight an additional point: In interacting systems, such as high-restitution grain piles driven by low-amplitude vibration12, the pair correlation function9,19 typically appears (in the partition function, Q) and must be determined in order to determine equilibrium thermodynamic properties.
Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics studies spontaneous, i.e., thermal, and non-spontaneous, externally-imposed departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium, where the latter arise due to spatial gradients in mass, momentum, and/or energy. In order to interpret and predict non-equilibrium dynamics of vibrated grain systems, and assuming weak departures from local equilibrium – the picture assumed, for example, in continuum fluid flows governed by the NS equations – four theoretical tools should be learned and mastered.
First, considering the non-equilibrium dynamics of individual grains, the GLE, and the simpler, memory-free Langevin equation (LE)2,9,11 provide a rigorous basis for studying this feature. In particular, short, collision-time-scale, single-grain dynamics, in dense liquid-like states12, are best modeled using the GLE, while on longer time scales – from, say 10 collision times and longer – the LE, describing Brownian particle dynamics, is appropriate12.
Second, in order to predict effective grain viscosities, as well as effective grain self-diffusion coefficients2 – the first, an essential transport property required for accurately modeling the continuum flow of vibrated grain fluids, the Green-Kubo relations2,9,23 are available. In order to apply the Green-Kubo relations, an experimentalist should learn how these are derived; relatively straightforward derivations can be found, for example, in Boon & Yip2.
The third tool required for studying the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of vibrated grain systems corresponds to a rigorous coarse graining procedure9,12 that recasts the exact, discrete-particle versions of the mass, momentum and energy conservation laws into continuum, i.e., NS, form. The procedure thus constitutes the essential bridge for rigorously deriving the continuum equations governing the fluid-like, collective dynamics of vibrated grain systems, as well as the conceptual basis for understanding the intimate connection between local equilibrium thermodynamic properties, like pressure, temperature, sound speed, and specific heat, to the non-equilibrium, continuum transport of mass, momentum, and energy.
Fourth, in order to expose and interpret large-length-scale, hydrodynamic modes2,9 that pervade both molecular liquid and vibrated grain systems12, an experimentalist should become acquainted with the analysis of these modes. Briefly, the continuum response of molecular liquids to scattering beams1,2,9, and likewise, the continuum response of grain piles to vibration12, reveals the existence of five, coupled, linear (i.e., weak), collective modes. The modes arise from the five, coupled, continuum mass, momentum and energy conservation equations, and physically, reveal the modal processes that communicate spatial differences in conserved properties. These spatial differences, in turn, drive continuum transport of these properties.
Modifications and trouble shooting
For the PIV measurements, the bowl diameter could be modified (increased) to the point where the field of view of the camera is perpendicular over a nearly flat section of the test area which would remove more of the edge effects. Additional methods could be added to measure other variables such as force or pressure.
The mechanical pieces of the experimental set up are robust and require very little trouble shooting. If the media appears to be sticking together, the FC solution rate may be increased to ensure relatively smooth motion.
A majority of the trouble shooting would be in the PIV or data analysis systems. The first common problem occurs when the images are not imported in correct sequence. An image set may be sorted incorrectly in a computer file system if it is numbered using both negative and positive numbers, as is the case if the camera is set to trigger after obtaining an initial buffer of images. A file system may place the negatively numbered images directly beside their corresponding positively numbered image, which will cause the image set to import into the PIV software environment in a wrong order, which in turn leads to improper creation of double frames. Re-label the images using only positive numbers to ensure they are sorted in proper sequence.
If the PIV system gives errors when importing the images, it is most likely due to the images being in the wrong format. Ensure images are grayscale using data processing software and saved in TIFF format before importing into the PIV software environment.
Calibration errors can also be common, but not always recognized until the processing is complete. The PIV software environment separates imported image sets into "Runs," each of which has its own unique calibration. Therefore, each new run must include a calibration image (Step 2.2.7). Calibration images may only be re-used between runs if there is absolutely no change to the experimental setup or field of view. A new set of images may be imported into an existing run if said run is selected prior to starting the import process (Step 4.2.1). This will allow the new image set to use the run's existing calibration image, but should only be done if all image sets in the run are captured using the same camera.
Limitations
The main limitations of the PIV measurement technique, in its present configuration, is that it cannot measure the vertical grain velocity component, perpendicular to the grain bed's nominally horizontal free surface. Our observations, however, indicate that the long-time-scale, continuum grain flow remains essentially horizontal at the free surface, while the vertical, short-time-scale, random (peculiar) velocity component is likely of the same order of magnitude as the (two) measured horizontal peculiar components. Thus, this limitation has little impact on analysis of the grain bed surface's continuum flow, while it is reasonable to assume that the short-time-scale vertical random motion shares the same statistical properties as those measured for the horizontal components12.
Significance with respect to existing methods
To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that vibrated grain piles can be used as a predictive analog for studying liquid-state molecular hydrodynamic processes. There are two approaches for studying molecular-scale dynamics in dense liquids and gases, one of which measures light, neutrons, or high-frequency sound scattered from an interrogation volume1,2, and the other, computationally simulating molecular dynamic systems6,7 . The results from the present experiment are significant since they show that molecular hydrodynamic processes can now be directly observed using macroscopic experimental measurements of vibrated grain pile dynamics. Equally significant, macroscopic statistical mechanical and continuum flow models that were developed in this study allow consistent, quantitative interpretation and prediction of equilibrium and non-equilibrium, single-grain and multi-grain dynamics. Now, an experimentalist can study these processes directly, bypassing, for example, computationally expensive simulations, or technically challenging molecular-scale particle scattering measurements. Furthermore, the theoretical framework developed here can be used to justify computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling in similar flows14
Future applications
The macroscopic experimental methods and theoretical models developed here can also be used to study various mass finishing processes, e.g., vibratory finishing14, which are important in the manufacture of a large range of mechanical components. Additionally, the fundamental work begun here will continue as we explore dynamical connections between vibrated, high-restitution grain piles and liquid-state molecular hydrodynamic systems. A model utilizing the discrete element method (DEM) is also under development and will be used to model the three-dimensional dynamical behavior of vibratory finishing processes, as well as computationally studying the molecular hydrodynamics of vibrated grain systems. [DEM differs from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in that CFD simulations are governed by the NS equations, while DEM models are governed by collisional Newtonian particle dynamics.]
Critical steps in the protocol
The most critical steps in this protocol from the beginning is the initial set up or the overall system, specifically the camera location with respect to the bowl, lighting should be diffuse so that it evenly covers the FOV, verify there are no reflections that cause glare in the images, steady FC flow and calibration of the PIV system. When setting up the bowl and the camera tripod/scaffolding, it must be verified that the vibratory system does not touch any portion of the camera or camera support system to ensure that the camera remains absolutely steady throughout the testing. Adequate lighting must be present on the entire test area to ensure the camera can pick up individual pieces of media throughout the test and that shadows do not create additional ghost pieces. An initial amount of solution must be dumped over the media prior to starting the vibratory system to ensure the media is "lubricated" and does not stick together at the beginning of the test. If the pieces stick together, they no longer represent molecules impacting each other, and they cause friction, which wears down the media and alters their size and mass. If the calibration of the PIV system, or the variables are not entered into the system correctly, the system will give false vector direction and magnitudes. To ensure the calibration is accurate, the ruler must be perpendicular to the camera with the scale easily readable in the image.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR N00014-15-1-0020)[Tkacik and Keanini] and performed at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Motorsports Research Lab. Polishing media was donated by Rosler.
Vibratory Polishing Bowl | Raytech | AV-75 | |
Flow Meter | Peristaltic Pumps | 913 Mity Flex | |
Scale | Pelouze | 4040 | |
Triaxial Accelerometer | PCB Piezotronics | PCB 356B11 | Accelerometer with Sensor Signal Conditioner |
Data Acquisition Computer | IBM | Thinkpad | Used with high speed camera |
High Speed Camera | Redlake | Motionxtra HG-XR | |
Zoom Lens | Tamron | Model A18 | 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 |
High intensity Light | ARRI | EB 400/575 D | |
Data Processing Computer | Dell | Dell Precision Tower 7910 | |
PIV Software | Dantec Dynamics | Dynamic Studio 2013 | version 3.41.38 |
Data Acquisition Hardware | National Instruments | SCXI | SCXI-1000 Chasis with SCXI 1100 Card and SCXI 1303 Adapter |
Data Acquisition Software | National Instruments | LabVIEW 2012 | |
Data Processing Software | MATHWORKS | MATLAB | |
Polishing Media | Rosler | RSG 10/10S | Multiple media types used (mixed, spherical, triangular) |
Polishing Solution | Rosler | FC KFL (3%) | 3% soap solution with water |
Ruled Scale | Swiss Precision Instruments | 13-911-3 | |
Graduated Cylinder | Global Scientific | 601082 |