Flow behaviour of grains through the dosing station of spacecraft under low gravity environments

For the design of the grain-processing stations of spacecrafts, such as EXOMARS 2020, reliable estimates are required on the internal and bulk flow characteristics of granular media under the low gravitational environments. Using theoretical and computational modelling, here we present results on the generic flow behaviour of granular materials through flow channels under different gravity levels. For this, we use three approaches, viz., (i) a simple one-dimensional discrete layer approach (DLA) based on hybrid-Lagrange continuum analysis (ii) three dimensional Kirya structural continuum model and (iii) three dimensional discrete element modelling (DEM). Each model has its merits and limitations. For the granular simulant considered here, a good level of agreement is obtained between the results of Kirya model and DEM simulations on the flow properties of the grains. Some qualitative comparisons are also reported favourably on the flow characteristics of grains between the results of the experimental parabolic flight campaign and the DEM simulations. The theoretical and DEM simulations presented here could help to minimise relying on the complex experimental programmes, such as the parabolic flight campaign, for evaluating the processing behaviour of grains under low gravitational environments in future.