Simulating breakage tests using the discrete element method with polyhedral particles

Abstract

Several tests are normally used to analyze the resistance of rocks and ores to breakage in the mining/aggregate industries. Some of these tests yield results that serve as basis for either simple mathematical expressions or comprehensive models, whereas others are essentially only used to classify a rock or ore in comparison with others. The present work demonstrates that the outcomes of three of these tests, namely the Bond crushability index, the JK Drop Weight Test and the Los Angeles abrasion test, can be predicted from simulations using the discrete element method with polyhedral particles with a particle replacement model. In addition to that, a sensitivity analysis of the predictions for the drop weight test results on the basis of selected simulation variables is analyzed, resulting in recommendation of optimal values. The work demonstrates the validity of the breakage model and its ability to describe outcomes of tests that are recognized to capture different aspects of the breakage response of brittle particulate materials.

Applications of DEM particle breakage models in mineral industrial

“…Using PRM, the product size can be defined and a target size distribution can be obtained. Several studies have been conducted in which the particle can be a sphere or cluster sphere (Åström and Herrman, 1998;Barrios et al, 2020;Cleary, 2001b;Cleary and Sinnott, 2015;Tava-res et al, 2021), superquadric (Delaney et al, 2015) or polyhedral cell (Arruda Tino and Tavares, 2022;Chen et al, 2024; and is replaced by smaller particles of the same or different shape by breakage.…”