Investigation of axial segregation in a rotating drum

A comparison was made on the influence of the fill level and the speed of rotation on the dimensionless band width using rigid glass beads and non-rigid rubber particles. The dimensionless band width increases with the increase of the level of fill using 1 mm rubber particles as the key components with a size ratio 2 at all rotational speeds studied. Whereas the dimensionless band width decreases with increasing level of fill when 1 mm glass particles as the key components with a size ratio 2 are mixed at all rotational speeds studied. When particles of different elastic properties are mixed, segregated bands are formed but are less pure compared to the bands formed due to size segregation. The interfaces between the rubber-rich bands and the glass-rich bands are curved. A remarkable convective motion at the surface of the particle bed is observed.