Review: Calibration of the discrete element method

The reach of tribology has expanded in diverse fields and tribology related research activities have seen immense growth during the last decade. This review takes stock of the recent advances in research pertaining to different aspects of tribology within the last 2 to 3 years. Different aspects of tribology that have been reviewed including lubrication, wear and surface engineering, biotribology, high temperature tribology, and computational tribology. This review attempts to highlight recent research and also presents future outlook pertaining to these aspects. It may however be noted that there are limitations of this review. One of the most important of these is that tribology being a highly multidisciplinary field, the research results are widely spread across various disciplines and there can be omissions because of this. Secondly, the topics dealt with in the field of tribology include only some of the salient topics (such as lubrication, wear, surface engineering, biotribology, high temperature tribology, and computational tribology) but there are many more aspects of tribology that have not been covered in this review. Despite these limitations it is hoped that such a review will bring the most recent salient research in focus and will be beneficial for the growing community of tribology researchers.

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A review of recent advances in tribology

As a consequence of increasing computer power and more readily useable commercial and open source codes, Discrete Element Method (DEM) is becoming widely used across a range of applications to simulate increasingly complex processes. This is exacerbating the challenge of setting up simulations for industrial applications. The literature on input parameter selection is divided. A number of papers report methods for their direct measurement. Others, by contrast, propose a “calibration” approach where the particle properties are derived as adjustable parameters by quantitative comparison of experimental and simulation results. This paper reports on the calibration and validation of the input parameters for the specific case of cylindrical tablets represented by conjoined spheres. The initial steps are to not only assign and optimise the DEM input parameters but also optimise the shape representation; what degree of linearity of the edges and angularity of the corners are required to accurately reflect the cylindrical shape. The model was used to simulate two configurations of a rotating drum: an “attrition tester” with a single longitudinal baffle and an un-baffled drum. The results were compared qualitatively and quantitatively with experimental data. While the qualitative comparison was good in most cases, detailed quantitative comparison fared less well, with some significant errors. This study highlights some of the key issues for a wider-spread of industrial applications for DEM.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/kona/32/0/32_2015016/_pdf

Discrete Element Method (DEM) for Industrial Applications: Comments on Calibration and Validation for the Modelling of Cylindrical Pellets

CFD-DEM modelling and simulation of pneumatic conveying: A review

The influence of particle shape on flow modes in pneumatic conveying

Transient parameter analysis of fluidized dense phase conveying

Wear mechanisms in dense phase pneumatic conveying of alumina

Moisture migration in bulk materials can cause many problems for bulk material handling. The review aims to find an appropriate method for dynamic moisture migration in unsaturated bulk materials d...

Kenneth Williams

Papers

Transient parameter analysis of fluidized dense phase conveying

Wear mechanisms in dense phase pneumatic conveying of alumina

A review of moisture migration in bulk material

On the kinematics of horizontal slug flow pneumatic conveying and the relationship between slug length, porosity, velocities and stationary layers

Insights into horizontal slug flow pneumatic conveying from layer fraction and slug velocity measurements