A study of the axial segregation in a rotating drum using deformable particles

A binary mixture of particles is utilized to investigate size-induced and non-size-induced axial segregation in a rotating drum using deformable 1 mm rubber particles as the key component. In the size-induced segregation studies, the dimensionless band width (width of segregation band divided by particle size) of the small particles (WB/dp) increases in proportion to the rotational speed in the range of 10 rpm to 40 rpm when the fill level is between 10% and 36%. WB/dp increases as the fill level increases from 10% to 36% with a particle size ratio 2 and has a maximum value with a particle size ratio 3. In the non-size-induced segregation studies, segregated bands are observed in (3 mm rubber–3 mm glass) and (4 mm rubber–4 mm glass) systems with low fill levels. There is no axial segregation when 1 mm and 2 mm rubber particles are mixed with 1 mm and 2 mm glass particles, respectively. The non-size-induced segregation bands were different from the size-induced segregation bands. The bands are less pure and the interfaces are less distinct. The results suggest that trajectory segregation is the dominant segregation mechanism in axial segregation in drums.