Abstract
Coupled FEM–DEM simulations enable the direct analysis of the load, the deformation and the stresses inside machine parts which interact with bulk materials. The analysis of large deformations of elastic parts is interesting as the deformation will significantly influence the bulk material behaviour. In this paper a bidirectional coupling method for the FEM software \(\hbox {ANSYS}^\circledR \) Classic and the DEM software \(\hbox {LIGGGHTS}^\circledR \) is presented. The coupling algorithm was verified and validated using a modified draw down test rig. The results from the experimental investigations and the FEM–DEM simulations are compared. A very good correlation between experiments and simulations could be found.
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Abbreviations
- A :
-
Area, \(\hbox {mm}^{2}\)
- \(b_{\mathrm{out}}\) :
-
Width of the outlet, mm
- \(d_{\mathrm{k}}\) :
-
Grain size distribution, mm
- \(D_{\mathrm{part}}\) :
-
Particle distribution, mm
- E :
-
Young modulus of the steel sheet samples, \(\hbox {N/mm}^{2}\)
- \(E_{\mathrm{part}}\) :
-
Particle young modulus, \(\hbox {N/mm}^{2}\)
- \(\mathbf{f }\) :
-
Element force vector
- \(\mathbf{f}_{\mathrm{p} }\) :
-
Volume load vector
- \(h_{\mathrm{max}}\) :
-
Transfer height, mm
- \(I_{\mathrm{m}}\) :
-
Mass flow rate, t/h
- K :
-
Element stiffness matrix
- \({L}_{\mathrm{ELEM}}\) :
-
Finite element edge length, mm
- \(l_{\mathrm{LMP}}\) :
-
Measurement positions, mm
- \(l_{\mathrm{out}}\) :
-
Length of the outlet, mm
- \(m_{\mathrm{total}}\) :
-
Bulk material total mass, kg
- \(\mathbf{p}_{\mathrm{\mathbf{k}}}\) :
-
Vector for the element node loads
- p :
-
Pressure, N/mm\(^{2}\)
- t :
-
Time, s
- \(t_{\mathrm{elem }}\) :
-
Element thickness, mm
- \(t_{\mathrm{KL}}\) :
-
Flap opening time, s
- \(t_{\mathrm{sample}}\) :
-
Thickness of the steel sheet samples, mm
- \(t_{\mathrm{sim}}\) :
-
Simulation time, s
- v :
-
displacement vector
- v :
-
Poisson ratio, -
- \(v_{\mathrm{c}}\) :
-
Contact velocity, m/s
- \(v_{\mathrm{exp}}\) :
-
Maximum deformation during the experimental test, mm
- \(v_{\mathrm{sim}}\) :
-
Maximum deformation during the analogues FEM–DEM simulation, mm
- \(\Delta t_{\mathrm{DEM}}\) :
-
DEM timestep, s
- \(\Delta t_{\mathrm{FEM}}\) :
-
FEM timestep, s
- \(\Delta v\) :
-
Average of deformation, mm
- \(\varepsilon \) :
-
Porosity, -
- \(\mu _{\mathrm{P}}\) :
-
Coulomb friction coefficient, -
- \(\mu _{\mathrm{R}}\) :
-
Rolling friction coefficient, -
- \(\mu _{\mathrm{w, perspex}}\) :
-
Wall friction coefficient between bulk material and Perspex, -
- \(\mu _{\mathrm{w, sample}}\) :
-
Wall friction coefficient between bulk material and steel sheet, -
- \(\rho \) :
-
Material density of the steel sheet beams, \(\hbox {kg/m}^{3}\)
- \(\rho _{\mathrm{b}}\) :
-
Bulk material density, \(\hbox {kg/m}^{3}\)
- \(\varphi _{\mathrm{b,stat}}\) :
-
Angle of repose, \({^{\circ }}\)
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the German Ministry of Research and Education for the financial support of the research project “SimBa” (01 IS 13 006 A).
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This article is part of the Topical Collection on: Understanding granular media - from fundamentals and simulations to industrial application.
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Dratt, M., Katterfeld, A. Coupling of FEM and DEM simulations to consider dynamic deformations under particle load. Granular Matter 19, 49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-017-0728-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-017-0728-3