Granular media form a unique class of materials that exhibit behavior somewhere between that of solids and fluids. This category includes a diverse array of substances such as food grains, dry powders, sand, ores, and other materials widely used in industrial applications. Granular media also play a crucial role in natural phenomena like landslides and desertification. Despite their ubiquity, our understanding of their flow dynamics remains incomplete, posing challenges in optimizing their handling, transportation, and processing across both industrial and environmental contexts.
For now, I am interested in the following topics:
Enhancing Transportation of Granular Material: This involves optimizing the movement of grains or particles through systems such as conveyors, hoppers, or chutes by controlling flow rates, reducing blockages, and improving efficiency.
Sieving and Segregation of Grains: This refers to separating grains or particles based on size, density, or other properties using mechanical vibrations or fluid flows, often to improve processing or material quality.
Grain-Structure Interactions: This studies the behavior of grains when they interact with surrounding structures or boundaries, focusing on how forces, stresses, and material properties affect overall system performance.
I am considering the following food processing-related applications:
In food processing, optimizing the flow of granular materials like grains, powders, and seeds is essential for efficient transport, reducing blockages, and minimizing product loss during storage and packaging.
Sieving and segregating grains by size and quality are crucial in food processing for sorting raw materials, improving product consistency, and ensuring food safety.
Understanding how particles clump together (agglomeration) or break apart (fragmentation) helps in controlling the texture and quality of food products such as powders, cereals, and processed goods.
