Optimized structure design for binary particle mixing in rotating drums using a combined DEM and gaussian process-based model

Multicomponent granular mixing in a Bohle bin Blender-Experiments and simulation.

Investigation of strain-sensitive properties of porous media through micro-CT imaging and numerical modelling

Clay consolidation has generally been considered from a macro-scale perspective by measuring the macro-scale compression of a clay soil over time. Clay particles in consolidation tests experience shear and normal forces at the inter-particle level due to force applied to the soil at the macro-scale. These shear and normal forces cause the particles to slide at the micro-scale and produce macro-scale changes in soil volume and shape. By considering the inter-particle interactions at the micro- scale interfaces, the shear force - normal force - velocity relationship can be described by the theoretically derived Rate Process Theory (RPT). This paper presents a Discrete Element Method (DEM) model to numerically calculate thin, disk-shaped clay particle movement in three dimensions during compression using the RPT contact model. The coefficient of secondary compression obtained from the DEM model using RPT parameters supported by previous research was 0.059. The coefficient of secondary compression obtained from macro-scale consolidation tests for a montmorillonite clay was 0.031. Differences between the numerical model and experimental measurements are attributed to particle shape, size distribution, and particle number. The influence of the number of bonds and bond strength on clay creep behavior are also quantified and discussed.

In this paper, the mesocalibration test was used to measure the contact parameters (restitution coefficient, rolling friction coefficient, static friction coefficient, and surface energy) between coarse aggregate particles and mortar particles in Discrete Element Method (DEM) model of concrete. Then, the DEM model of concrete slump was established according to the coarse aggregate gradation to study the flow behavior of coarse aggregate in fresh concrete. The slump test result was compared with the output of the slump DEM model with high consistent, indicating the promising reliability of the mesocalibration test. Finally, based on the mesocalibration test results, the DEM model of pumping concrete was established. It was obtained that the pumping pressure calculated by the numerical model was similar to that of the pumping test with satisfactory accuracy better than the concrete pumping pressure calculated according to the rheological test results of concrete and lubricating layer. On this basis, the movement trajectory of coarse aggregate in the pump pipe was analyzed and the influence of coarse aggregate on the pumping performance of concrete was revealed.

The object of study is the vertical wave propagation in a sand deposit. This paper is aimed at analyzing the vertical wave propagation in a sand deposit through micromechanical modeling that inherently takes account of intergranular slips during deformation. Such a problem, which is part of the general framework of wave propagation in the soil, has long been analyzed using continuum models based on approximate behavior laws. For this purpose, a 2D Discrete Element Method (DEM) model is developed. The DEM model is based on molecular dynamics with the use of circular shaped elements. The intergranular normal forces at contacts are calculated through a linear viscoelastic law while the tangential forces are calculated through a perfectly plastic viscoelastic model. A model of rolling friction is incorporated in order to account for the damping of the grains rolling motion. Different boundary conditions of the profile have been implemented; a bedrock at the base, a free surface at the top and periodic boundaries in the horizontal direction. The sand deposit is subjected to a harmonic excitation at the base. Using this model, the fundamental and resonance frequencies of the deposit are first determined. The former is determined from the low-amplitude free vibration and the latter by performing a variable-frequency excitation test. It is noted that there is a significant gap between the two frequencies, this gap could be attributed to the degradation of the soil shear modulus in the vicinity of the resonance. Such degradation is well proven in classical soil dynamics. The effects of deposit height and confinement on resonance frequency and free-surface dynamic amplification factor are then investigated. The obtained results highlighted that the resonance frequency is inversely proportional to the deposit’s thickness whereas the dynamic amplification factor Rd increases with the deposit’s thickness. In the other hand, when the confinement increases the deposit becomes stiffer, which results in reducing the amplification. Such result is in accordance with theoretical knowledge which states that the most rigid profiles such as rocks do not amplify seismic movement.

DEM simulations on the influence of carbonate precipitation on liquefaction mitigation of sand

The discrete element method (DEM) was used to establish the slump model and J-Ring model of concrete to describe the flow behavior in the slump test and J-Ring test. Then, the contact parameters of particle-particle and particle-geometry for the concrete DEM model, including restitution coefficient, rolling friction coefficient, static friction coefficient, and surface energy, were measured. In order to avoid the influence of the shape and size of the aggregate, this paper used high-precision glass spheres as the aggregate of the concrete for meso-calibration test, slump test, and J-Ring test. Comparing the simulation results of DEM model with slump test result, a very high agreement between the initial stage, the rapid flow stage, and the slow flow stage of the slump flow–time curve can be found as well as the final slump and slump flow. Moreover, similar to the slump DEM model, the DEM models of J-Ring test, V-funnel test, and U-channel test were established to study the passing ability and filling ability of concrete with outstanding accuracy. Therefore, the concrete DEM model with contact parameters and JKR model can be adopted to study the flow behavior of the fresh concrete.

Particulate mixing in a plough share mixer using DEM with realistic shaped particles

The progressive damage in cross-ply laminates was modeled by discrete element method (DEM). A particle radius expansion method was used to account for thermal loading applied to cross-ply laminates in which nominal fibers were introduced in the 0° plies so as to achieve the anisotropic thermal expansion behaviors. A series of convergence and validation tests of both mechanical and thermal properties of the 0° plies with nominal fibers have been carried out in order to validate the method. The DEM results of interfacial stress distribution of cross-ply laminates under pure thermal loading and under coupled thermal/mechanical loading were compared with other theoretical predictions. Microstructure of 90° plies was also studied by the DEM model. Transverse cracking which was formed by the coalescence of micro cracks in matrix and at fiber/matrix interface has been observed in the modeling results together with the ply-ply delaminations. It was found that the DEM model can predict not only the stress distribution but also the progressive damage initialized from the constituent failure due to its multi scale nature.

Numerical CFD simulation of 1 MWth circulating fluidized bed using the coarse grain discrete element method with homogenous drag models and particle size distribution

Discrete element model for performance analysis of cutterhead excavation system of EPB machine

Discrete element method simulation of segregation pattern in a sinter cooler charging chute system

Modeling the Propagation of Salmonella within Bulk Almond Using Discrete Element Method Particle Simulation Technique

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine several calibration techniques that have been developed to determine the discrete element method (DEM) parameters for slow and rapid unconfined flow of granular conical pile formation. This paper also aims to discuss some of the methods currently employed to scale particle properties to reduce computational resources and time to solve large DEM models.Design/methodology/approach – DEM models have been calibrated against simple bench‐scale experimental results to examine the validity of selected parameters for the contact, material and mechanical models to simulate the dynamic and static behaviour of cohesionless polyethylene pellets. Methods to determine quantifiable single particle parameters such as static friction and the coefficient of restitution have been highlighted. Numerical and experimental granular pile formation has been investigated using different slumping and pouring techniques to examine the dependency of the type of flow mechanism on the D...

In many granular material handling processes, heat generation, and subsequent temperature rise, due to contacts between particles and surfaces is common. Aiming to explore this phenomenon, friction-induced heat generation and heat transfer models are developed and implemented into a Discrete Element Method (DEM) in this paper. The DEM models are validated qualitatively for the temperature distribution pattern and quantitatively for the evolution of particle temperature rise using data obtained experimentally. Moreover, the temperature distribution of the drum end plates obtained in the simulations shows the same annulus pattern observed in experiments. It is also found that increasing the rotation speed of the drum leads to an increase in the annular heated region of drum and in the net heat that particles obtain. In addition, a higher rotation speed leads to higher absolute fluctuations and lower relative variability of particle temperature.