The axial segregation of granular flows in rotating drums is closely correlated to the material properties and side-wall friction. In this study, experimental work with two different types of sidewall roughness is performed to characterize the frictional effect of the side walls. In one case both walls are smooth and in the other each sidewall has a different roughness. The evolution of the Rayleigh-instability core inside the granular assembly varies with the aspect ratio of the drums. By increasing the Froude number, the axial banding expands with increasing side-wall roughness. The asymmetrical banding stripe is enhanced by the differential frictional roughness on either side wall. Axial segregation is driven by both the variation in the size ratio of the mixtures and the drum geometrical parameters. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.