Simulation of pressure distribution in a pyrophyllite high-pressure cell by finite-element analysis

The pressure-transmitting behavior and pressure distribution of a pyrophyllite cell in a cubic-anvil large volume high-pressure apparatus is investigated by finite-element analysis (FEA). The mechanical equations describing pyrophyllite under high pressure are given, which are composed of the Drucker–Prager criterion and a linear equation of state. The related material parameters such as cohesive strength, angle of internal friction etc. are experimentally measured. The FEA simulation includes the non-uniformity deviatoric stress caused by plastic deformation and the isotropy hydrostatic pressure of the pyrophyllite cell caused by volume compression. The results demonstrate that, in such a pyrophyllite cell, almost 90{%} of the pressure is isotropy hydrostatic pressure, and the pressure gradient mainly arise from non-uniform deviatoric stresses. Simulated data are displayed using the contour and the path plots.