Factors influencing the density profiles of granular flux in a two-dimensional inclined channel

The two-dimensional dilute granular flow on a smooth incline bounded by rough sidewalls is investigated experimentally, and the transverse density profiles of granular flux (ζ = ρ v) across the channel are measured. The results show that the transverse density profiles of granular flux are symmetric about the channel center and that the density of granular flux near the boundary is clearly lower than that of the center. There is a critical width of channel W _c for the transition of the density of granular flux. The density of granular flux near the boundary decays with the increasing of inclination (sinθ) of the channel. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10274071) and the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province (Grant Nos. 20050916 and y200804093)