Simple probabilistic modeling of granular jamming and validation using DEM

We study the flow of grains in a bi-dimensional hopper. We propose a simple continuous probabilistic flow model: from uniformly random positions in the hopper, particles evolve without interaction towards the hopper aperture and jamming occurs if sufficiently many simultaneously try to exit. Using the more elaborate DEM simulations as a benchmark we investigate the extent to which the probabilistic model captures the complex particle behavior of real granular systems.