Discrete element modelling of large soil deformations under heavy vehicles

This paper addresses the challenges of creating realistic models of soil for simulations of heavy vehicles on weak terrain. We modelled dense soils using the discrete element method with variable parameters for surface friction, normal cohesion, and rolling resistance. To find out what type of soils can be represented, we measured the internal friction and bulk cohesion of over 100 different virtual samples. To test the model, we simulated rut formation from a heavy vehicle with different loads and soil strengths. We conclude that the relevant space of dense frictional and frictional-cohesive soils can be represented and that the model is applicable for simulation of large deformations induced by heavy vehicles on weak terrain.     

颗粒材料三维应力路径下的接触组构特性

颗粒材料的宏观应力变形特征与其微观接触力、组构等紧密相关.一般而言,强接触系统属于颗粒内部体系的传力结构,其对应的组构张量是影响宏观应力性质的重要因素.细观数值方法(如离散单元法)能够反映物理试验的基本规律,并且可以方便地提取宏微观数据来研究颗粒体系的应力变形机制.采用离散单元法(discrete element method,DEM)进行一系列等$p$等$b$应力路径下颗粒材料的真三轴试验,在此基础上研究了三维应力路径下颗粒材料的宏微观力学参数的演化过程、三维组构张量与应力张量多重联系以及强接触体系反映的宏观应力特征.研究表明:颗粒体系偏应力峰值状态和临界状态均存在与加载路径无关的宏微观特征;三维应力路径下组构张量与应力张量存在非共轴性,但其联合不变量演化过程表现出加载路径无关的特征;与弱接触系统的组构张量相比,强接触系统的组构张量更能反映宏观应力张量的特征;强弱接触体系的组构张量对颗粒体系宏观响应的贡献不同,其分界点存在一定取值范围,但采用平均接触力较为简单合理.      

准静态离散元方法和线性粘弹性问题的模拟

离散元方法是近年发展起来的一种新数值方法,但原则上只能用于动态问题。从静力平衡条件出发建立了离散元系统的准静态演化方程并证明了系数矩阵具有对称正定、稀疏、带状分布等特点,适用于“有效列”方法求解,该解法比高斯消去法节省更多的内存和机时。通过引入广义Maxwell体的元间作用模型建立起线性粘弹性材料准静态响应的离散元模拟方法。该方法独立于传统动态离散元方法,是传统动态离散元方法的拓展,可望在更多领域获得应用。     

基于Voronoi切割算法的碎冰区构造及离散元分析

离散元方法广泛应用于海冰，特别是碎冰区的动力过程及其对海洋结构作用过程的数值模拟。为构造碎冰区中的冰块几何特性，基于二维Voronoi图方法对计算域进行随机切割以生成碎冰区中冰块的几何形态，并采用球体单元对每个碎冰块单元进行填充，从而确定碎冰区的初始分布场。在采用Voronoi图进行碎冰区构造时，可对冰块尺寸、几何形态和密集度等海冰参数进行设定。为确定冰块的不同几何规则度，综合采用排斥法和扰动法以定量地控制碎冰块几何形态从完全随机分布到规则分布的连续变换。为分析不同几何规则度下碎冰块的几何特性概率分布规律，对计算域内冰块的面积和边数等参数进行统计分析，从而可更合理地参数化控制初始冰场中碎冰块的几何特性。在此基础上，本文基于粘接-破碎的球体离散元方法对不同冰况下锥体结构的冰荷载进行了数值计算，讨论分析了碎冰区的海冰密集度、冰块面积和几何规则度对冰载荷的影响。     

DEM investigation on conveying of non-spherical particles in a screw conveyor

Screw conveyors are extensively used in modern industry such as metallurgy, architecture and pharmaceutical due to their high-efficiency in the transportation of granular materials. And substantial efforts have been devoted to the study of the screw conveyors. Numerical method is an effective way to study screw conveyor. However, previous studies have mainly focused in the regime of spherical particles while the in-depth investigations for non-spherical particles that should be the most encountered in practical applications are still limited. In view of the above situations, discrete element method (DEM), which has been widely accepted in simulating the discrete systems, is utilized to investigate the conveying process of non-spherical particles in a horizontal screw conveyor, with particles being modeled by super-ellipsoids. In addition, a wear model called SIEM (Shear Impact Energy Model) is incorporated into DEM to predict the wear of screw conveyor. The DEM simulation results demonstrate that the particle shape is influential for the flow behaviors of particles and the wear of conveyor. The conveying performance evaluated quantitatively of both mass flow rate and power consumption is subsequently obtained to investigate the effect of sphericity of particle with different operation parameters. Moreover, particle collision frequency and collision energy consumption are acquired to investigate the possible particle breakage between particles and screw blade. The comparisons between particle–particle collision and particle–wall collision reveal that particles with large shape index have more possibility to be damaged in particle–wall impingement.     

Influence of aspect ratio and arrangement direction on the shear behavior of ellipsoids

This work studies the macroscopic and microscopic behaviors of ellipsoids under triaxial tests using 3D discrete element method (DEM) simulation. To avoid the boundary effect, a novel stress servo-controlled periodic boundary condition is proposed to maintain the confining pressure of samples during testing. The shape features of ellipsoids are investigated, including the aspect ratio of elongated/oblate ellipsoids and the initial arrangement directions of ellipsoids. The macroscopic properties of ellipsoidal particle samples, such as the deviatoric stress, volumetric strain, internal friction angle, as well as dilatancy angles are explored. Elongated and oblate ellipsoids with varying aspect ratios are investigated for the occurrence of stick-slips. In addition, it is demonstrated that the initial arrangement direction has a significant impact on the coordination number and contact force chains. The corresponding anisotropy coefficients of the entire contact network are analyzed to probe the microscopic roots of macroscopic behavior.     

Discrete element simulation of effects of multicontact loading on single particle crushing

Particle crushing commonly occurs in granular materials and affects their structures and mechanical properties. Unlike idealized particles in experimental single particle crushing tests with two loading points, natural particles are crushed under multicontact loading. To date, the criteria and patterns of particle crushing under multicontact conditions are not fully understood. By using the three-dimensional discrete element method, this report explores the effect of multicontact loading on the crushing criterion of a single particle, the crushing pattern, and the relationship between the particle crushing strength and loading distribution. The particles are modelled as aggregates of glued Voronoi polyhedra. The numerical results indicate that the logarithm of the mean principal stress has a good linear correlation with the coordination number. For a specific coordination number, the number of child particles presents a significant normal distribution. For a specific number of child particles, the volumes of child particles can be statistically described as normal or gamma distribution. Three typical models are proposed to qualitatively analyse the relationship between the loading distribution and crushing strength. The relevant conclusions can be helpful in engineering practice and in further studies on crushable granular materials via the discrete element method.     

Reliability study of super-ellipsoid DEM in representing the packing structure of blast furnace

In industrial blast furnaces (BFs), the investigations involving the flow behaviors of particles and the resultant burden structure are essential to optimize its operation stability and energy consumption. With the advance of computing capability and mathematical model, the discrete element method (DEM) specialized in characterizing particle behavior has manifested its power in the investigation of BFs. In the framework of DEM, many particle models have been developed, but which model is more suitable for simulating the particle behaviors of BFs remains a question because real particles in BFs have large shape and size dispersity. Among these particle models, the super-ellipsoid model possesses the ability to change shape flexibly. Therefore, the focus of this study is to investigate whether the super-ellipsoid model can meet the requirement of authenticity and accuracy in simulating the behaviors of particles with large shape and size dispersity. To answer this question, a simplified BF charging system composed of a hopper and a storage bin is established. The charging process and the final packing structure are analyzed and compared between experiments and simulations with different shape indexes. The results show that super-ellipsoid particles have prominent advantages over spherical particles in terms of representing the real BF particles, and it can more reasonably reproduce the flow behaviors and packing structure of experimental particles. The computation cost of super-ellipsoid particles is also acceptable for engineering applications. Finally, the micro-scale characteristics of packing structure is analyzed and the single-ring charging process in industry-scale BF using super-ellipsoid particles is conducted.     

砌体结构破坏倒塌过程的离散单元模拟

基于传统颗粒离散单元模型（DEM）,开发了一种绑定式离散单元模型（BTDEM）用于砌体结构崩塌机制的研究,并对一个典型砌体结构的破坏倒塌过程进行数值模拟。结果证实BTDEM方法能够详细地模拟出砌体建筑结构的崩塌过程,同时还可以模拟出砌块的破碎,是一种普适性较强的模拟砌体结构建筑的高效数值方法。BTDEM方法具有计算速度...     

Vibration induced flow in hoppers: DEM 2D polygon model

A two-dimensional discrete element model (DEM) simulation of cohesive polygonal particles has been developed to assess the benefit of point source vibration to induce flow in wedge-shaped hoppers. The particle-particle interaction model used is based on a multi-contact principle.The first part of the study investigated particle discharge under gravity without vibration to determine the critical orifice size (Be) to just sustain flow as a function of particle shape. It is shown that polygonal-shaped particles need a larger orifice than circular particles. It is also shown that Be decreases as the number of particle vertices increases. Addition of circular particles promotes flow of polygons in a linear manner.The second part of the study showed that vibration could enhance flow, effectively reducing Be. The model demonstrated the importance of vibrator location (height), consistent with previous continuum model results, and vibration amplitude in enhancing flow.