Análise da forma da partícula na aplicação do Método dos Elementos Discretos (DEM)

Abstract

This work analyzes the effect of particle shape through the Discrete Element Method (DEM). Are employed four particles with different shapes and sphericity – one spherical and three non-spherical. The repose angle is the main tool to evaluating of the flow. The analysis starts with the calibration of the spherical particle using available literature data, then theses calibrated parameters are employed for the flow simulation of the non-spherical particles. Comparisons are performed on the computational effort, and this information is used to verify the advantages that the spherical particle provides on the three other shapes. In this scenario, procedures were developed to help in the calibration process of the repose angle, based in the knowledge of the sensitivity of some DEM parameters. The results show the influence of non-spherical shapes and, mainly, that is possible to obtain with the spherical shape, similar flows to the non-spherical shapes with computational gain.