OPTIMIZATION OF GRAVITY FLOW DISCHARGE CHUTES FOR MAXIMUM EXIT VELOCITY UNDER COULOMB FRICTION

The problem of finding the shape or gravity flow discharge chutes required to achieve maximum exit velocity under Coulomb friction is discussed. The necessary optimally conditions are formulated by use of the calculus of variations. Numerical solutions are given for a range of values of design parameters; both for free inlet angle and horizontal inlet. Information gained from the numerical results is used to obtain closed form solutions for the problem with free inlet angle.