Particulate Science and Technology, Vol.26, No.5, 460-466, 2008
Interparticle collision of particle composites - Finite and discrete element simulations
Three different cases of interparticle collisions were simulated to observe the fragmentation mechanisms of composite particles. It was found that the cracking mechanism in interparticle collisions is different from that observed in particle-wall collisions. By means of DEM simulations, it was observed that the primary interparticle bonds break in both tension and shear. Depending on the type of interparticle collisions, cracks and fragments are generated. In general, finer fragments are generated around the impact site of the particles and are surrounded by larger fragments. From DEM simulations, it was found for the most part that the impacting particles exhibit more damage than the stationary particles. The symmetrical loading showed almost the same amount of damage to both types of particles. The discontinuous nature of the material and the unsymmetrical loading caused unsymmetrical damages (crack patterns). In unsymmetrical loadings, the impacting particle was more damaged and had more cracks than the stationary particle.