Oedometric compression of a granular material: computation of energies involved during breakage with a discrete element modelling

TL;DR

This paper presents a discrete element model that simulates grain breakage during oedometric compression, allowing for energy analysis related to surface creation and redistribution, validated against existing literature.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel numerical model using Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics to simulate 3D grain breakage and analyze associated energies during compression.

Findings

Surface creation energy estimated accurately.

Model results align with literature data.

Effective simulation of complex grain shapes.

Abstract

A numerical model able to simulate the grain breakage with the discrete element method, using the "Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics" is presented. The model reproduces 3D grains having complex shapes and is tested in single grain and in oedometric compressions. Numerical simulations are then carried out to evaluate the different energies active during breakage (surface creation and redistribution energies). The surface creation energy is estimated. Results are closed to the ones found in the literature.