An improved disk discontinuous deformation analysis model for simulating particle mixing process in rotary drums

• Published in: Powder technology Vol. 368; pp. 202 - 212
• Main Authors: Huang, Gang-Hai, Chen, Xiao-Feng, Yi, Xiong-Wei, Xu, Yuan-Zhen, Zhang, Shu, Lin, Ze-Bing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.05.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Computer simulation; Deformation analysis; Disk discontinuous deformation analysis; Disk-movable line segment contact model; Disks; Drum; Exact solutions; Granular material; Mathematical models; Particle mixing; Particle mixing; Granular material; Disk discontinuous deformation analysis; Disk-movable line segment contact model; Drum
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.04.061

This paper develops an improved disk discontinuous deformation analysis (DDDA) model to simulate mixing particles in rotary drums. The original DDDA is improved by developing a disk-movable line segment contact model to motivate the constant movements of the disks during the mixing operation. The analytical solution of the movement of a single disk in a rotary drum is achieved by building a force analysis model, and the improved DDDA is validated by comparing this analytical solution with the proposed numerical simulation. Then, the improved DDDA is utilized to simulate mixing 8805 disks in a rotary drum, during which the influences of rotational speed and layouts of stirring blades are studies. Model performance shows that, the improved DDDA is a feasible tool to simulate the particle mixing process in rotary drums, which may optimize schemes for mixing particles and designing mixing equipment in industry. [Display omitted] •An improved DDDA model for simulating mixing particles in rotary drums is developed.•A disk-movable line segment contact model is developed.•The analytical solution of the movement of a single disk in rotary drum is achieved.•The validity of the improved DDDA is demonstrated.•The ability of the improved DDDA in simulating mixing disks in rotary drums is verified.