Quantifying the extent of crushing in granular materials: A probability-based predictive method

Grain crushing is one of the micromechanisms that governs the stress-strain behaviour of a granular material, and also its permeability by altering the grain size distribution. It is therefore advantageous to be able to predict the point of onset of crushing and to quantify the subsequent evolution of crushing. This paper uses the data of Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations to inform a statistical model of granular crushing. Distributions of normalised contact forces are first obtained. If the statistical distribution of the crushing strength of the grains is then known, the onset of crushing within an assembly of grains should be predictable. Two different cases, one in which grain strength was statistically independent of grain size and one showing an arbitrary trend, were used to compare with DEM results and so confirm the validity of the statistical method.     

DEM simulation of particle mixing in a sheared granular flow

Mixing behaviors of particles are simulated in a sheared granular flow using differently colored but otherwise identical glass spheres, with five different bottom wall velocities. By DEM simulation, the solid fractions, velocities, velocity fluctuations and granular temperatures are measured. The mixing layer thicknesses are compared with the calculations from a simple diffusion equation using the data of apparent self-diffusion coefficients obtained from the current simulation measurements. The calculations and simulation results showed good agreements, demonstrating that the mixing process of granular materials occurred through the diffusion mechanism.     

DEM simulation of particle mixing in a sheared granular flow

Mixing behaviors of particles are simulated in a sheared granular flow using differently colored but otherwise identical glass spheres, with five different bottom wall velocities. By DEM simulation, the solid fractions, velocities, velocity fluctuations and granular temperatures are measured.The mixing layer thicknesses are compared with the calculations from a simple diffusion equation using the data of apparent self-diffusion coefficients obtained from the current simulation measurements. The calculations and simulation results showed good agreements, demonstrating that the mixing process of granular materials occurred through the diffusion mechanism.     

Crushing of particles in idealised granular assemblies

Four idealised assemblies of equally sized spherical particles are subjected to a range of macroscopic compressive principal stresses and the contact forces on individual particles are determined. For each set of contact forces the stress fields within individual particles are studied. A failure criterion for brittle materials is imposed and indicates that crushing (or rupture) occurs when the maximum contact force reaches a threshold particle strength value, irrespective of the presence and magnitude of other lesser contact forces acting on the particle and the material properties of the particle. Combining the crushing mechanism with an assembly instability mechanism enables failure surfaces to be drawn in the three-dimensional stress space. A simple spatial averaging technique has been applied to the failure surfaces to remove the effects of assembly anisotropies. Sections of the failure surfaces on π planes have similarities to those commonly used in sand modelling.     

薄壁箱型结构吸收冲击能最大化的探讨

用薄壁箱型结构模型模拟在乘车空间不发生变形的条件下,发生正面冲突事故时车体．利用LS—DYNA程序分别地对附加质量附加在单个截面的模型、附加质量按照不同比例分配在两个截面的模型、改变前部分壁厚的模型进行冲击破坏模拟解析计算,根据其结果探讨在保持乘车空间的前提下如何增加前、后部冲击能的吸收问题．     

Dynamics of finite element structural models with multiple unilateral constraints

Fast and accurate simulation of mechanical structures with complex geometry requires application of the finite element method. This leads frequently to models with a relatively large number of degrees of freedom, which may also possess non-linear properties. Things become more complicated for systems involving unilateral contact and friction. In classical structural dynamics approaches, such constraints are usually modeled by special contact elements. The characteristics of these elements must be selected in a delicate way, but even so the success of these methods cannot be guaranteed. This study presents a numerical methodology, which is suitable for determining dynamic response of large scale finite element models of mechanical systems with multiple unilateral constraints. The method developed is based on a proper combination of results from two classes of direct integration methodologies. The first one includes standard methods employed in determining dynamic response of structural models possessing smooth non-linearities. The second class of methods includes specialized methodologies that simulate the response of dynamical systems with unilateral constraints. The validity and effectiveness of the methodology developed is illustrated by numerical results.     

CFD–DEM simulation of the pneumatic conveying of fine particles through a horizontal slit

Fine particles play a significant role in many industrial processes. To study the dynamic behavior of fine particle and their deposition in rock fractures, the pneumatic conveying of fine particles (approximately 100 μm in diameter) through a small-scale horizontal slit (0.41 m × 0.025 m) was studied, which is useful for the sealing technology of underground gas drainage in coal mining production. The CFD–DEM method was adopted to model the gas-particle two-phase flow; the gas phase was treated as a continuum and modeled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), particle motion and collisions were simulated using the DEM code. Then, the bulk movement of fine particles through a small-scale horizontal slit was explored numerically, and the flow patterns were further investigated by visual inspection. The simulation results indicated that stratified flow or dune flow can be observed at low gas velocities. For intermediate gas velocities, the flow patterns showed pulsation phenomena, and dune flow reappeared in the tail section. Moreover, periodic flow regimes with alternating thick and sparse stream structures were observed at a high gas velocity. The simulation results of the bulk movement of fine particles were in good agreement with the experimental findings, which were obtained by video-imaging experiments. Furthermore, the calculated pressure drop versus gas velocity profile was investigated and compared with relative experimental findings, and the results showed good agreement. Furthermore, the particle velocity vectors and voidage distribution were numerically simulated. Selected stimulation results are presented and provide a reference for the further study of fine particles.     

A continuous-discontinuous cellular automaton method for cracks growth and coalescence in brittle material简

A method of continuous-discontinuous cellular automaton for modeling the growth and coalescence of multiple cracks in brittle material is presented. The method uses the level set to track arbitrary discontinuities, and calculation grids are independent of the discontinuities and no remeshing are required with the crack growing. Based on Grif- fith fracture theory and Mohr-Coulumb criterion, a mixed fracture criterion for multiple cracks growth in brittle mate- rial is proposed. The method treats the junction and coales- cence of multiple cracks, and junction criterion and coales- cence criterion for brittle material are given, too. Besides, in order to overcome the tracking error in the level set ap- proximation for crack junction and coalescence, a dichotomy searching algorithm is proposed. Introduced the above the- ories into continuous-discontinuous cellular automaton, the present method can be applied to solving multiple crack growth in brittle material, and only cell stiffness is needed and no assembled global stiffness is needed. Some numerical examples are given to shown that the present method is efficient and accurate for crack junction, coalescence and percolation problems.     

Theoretical analysis of capillary-driven nanoparticulate slurry flow during a micromold filling process

The microcasting technique for the fabrication of microstructures mainly involves two consecutive steps, namely, the capillary-driven flow of nanoparticulate slurry in micromolds and sintering of the resulting preform. During the mold-filling step, particle settling leads to a spatial particle distribution in the preform, which affects the subsequent sintering kinetics, and in turn, and causes a shape distortion in the final sintered product. This paper presents a comprehensive theoretical model which is adopted to account for the capillary-driven flow and simultaneous particle settling behavior during the filling step. Numerical simulations are performed over a wide range of parameters to illustrate the effects of four nondimensional groups on the fill time and particle distribution, and to develop design windows, which may serve as guidelines in the design of particle properties, slurry composition, and mold dimensions to maintain a desired level of homogeneity in particle distribution.     

齿向修形对滤波减速器润滑性能的影响分析

综合考虑了滤波减速器齿向修形参数、真实齿面粗糙度和瞬态效应等因素,建立了轮齿混合润滑数学模型,数值计算了不同修形参数值对应不同啮合点的最大压力和中心膜厚,分析了齿面粗糙度和转速对润滑性能的影响.结果表明:修形参数r和Ry均存在一个优化范围,使得轮齿表面最大油膜压力显著降低,边缘效应弱化,而中心膜厚则随着r和Ry的增大而逐渐增大;未修形轮齿边缘油膜压力受粗糙度的影响而急剧增大,边缘效应更加显著,修形后轮齿的边缘效应得到了明显改善,因此,轮齿修形也因粗糙表面的存在而显得更加重要;随着转速逐渐降低,轮齿表面的平均油膜厚度逐渐变小,接触比逐渐增大,轮齿表面由弹流润滑逐渐转为混合润滑,最后演变为边界润滑.     

Micromechanics of breakage in sharp-edge particles using combined DEM and FEM

By combining DEM (Discrete Element Method) and FEM (Finite Element Method),a model is established to simulate the breakage of two-dimensional sharp-edge particles,in which the simulated particles are assumed to have no cracks.Particles can,however,crush during different stages of the numerical analysis,if stress-based breakage criteria are fulfilled inside the particles.With this model,it is possible to study the influence of particle breakage on macro- and micro-mechanical behavior of simulated angular materials.Two series of tests,with and without breakable particles,are simulated under different confining pressures based on conditions of biaxial tests.The results,presented in terms of micromechanical behavior for different confining pressures,are compared with macroparameters.The influence of particle breakage on microstructure of sharp-edge materials is discussed and the related confining pressure effects are investigated.Breakage of particles in rockfill materials are shown to reduce the anisotropy coefficients of the samples and therefore their strength and dilation behaviors.     

Micromechanics of breakage in sharp-edge particles using combined DEM and FEM

By combining DEM （Discrete Element Method） and FEM （Finite Element Method）, a model is established to simulate the breakage of twodimensional sharp-edge particles, in which the simulated particles are assumed to have no cracks. Particles can, however, crush during different stages of the numerical analysis, if stress-based breakage criteria are fulfilled inside the particles. With this model, it is possible to study the influence of particle breakage on macro- and micro-mechanical behavior of simulated angular materials. Two series of tests, with and without breakable particles, are simulated under different confining pressures based on conditions of biaxial tests. The results, presented in terms of micromechanical behavior for different confining pressures, are compared with macroparameters. The influence of particle breakage on microstructure of sharp-edge materials is discussed and the related confining pressure effects are investigated. Breakage of particles in rockfill materials are shown to reduce the anisotropy coefficients of the samples and therefore their strength and dilation behaviors.     

Onset velocity of circulating fluidization and particle residence time distribution: A CFD–DEM study

Until now, the onset velocity of circulating fluidization in liquid–solid fluidized beds has been defined by the turning point of the time required to empty a bed of particles as a function of the superficial liquid velocity, and is reported to be only dependent on the liquid and particle properties. This study presents a new approach to calculate the onset velocity using CFD–DEM simulation of the particle residence time distribution (RTD). The onset velocity is identified from the intersection of the fitted lines of the particle mean residence time as a function of superficial liquid velocity. Our results are in reasonable agreement with experimental data. The simulation indicates that the onset velocity is influenced by the density and size of particles and weakly affected by riser height and diameter. A power-law function is proposed to correlate the mean particle residence time with the superficial liquid velocity. The collisional parameters have a minor effect on the mean residence time of particles and the onset velocity, but influence the particle RTD, showing some humps and trailing. The particle RTD is found to be related to the particle trajectories, which may indicate the complex flow structure and underlying mechanisms of the particle RTD.