Experiments and 3D simulations are performed to study the convection cells generated in spherical glass beads within a vertically vibrated container. Discrete element method is employed to simulate the response of glass beads under vertical vibration. Movement of mono-size spherical particles is simulated under different vibration conditions and results are validated in experiments. The patterns of convection cells are found to depend on different operating parameters, i.e. frequency, amplitude etc. The influence of modified container geometries on the behavior of particle movement is being studied. Outward tilted container walls lead to the reversal of the direction of convection cells but only in specially modified containers. Results obtained from 3D systems are in controversy to the results obtained in 2D systems as described in most of the previous works. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.