Memorias de investigación
Communications at congresses:
Determination of the mechanical properties of corn grains and olive fruits required in DEM simulations
Year:2011
Research Areas
  • Mechanical engineering,
  • Civil engineering
Information
Abstract
Discrete element method (DEM) is a numerical technique widely used for simulating the mechanical behavior of granular materials involved in many food and agricultural industry processes. Additionally, this technique is also a powerful tool to understand many complex phenomena related to the mechanics of granular materials. However, to make use of the potential of this technique it is necessary to develop DEM models capable of representing accurately the reality. For that, among some other questions, it is essential that the values of the microscopic material properties used to define the numerical model are accurately determined. The values of the microscopic material properties used in DEM simulations can be obtained using two possible methods: calibration procedures and direct experimental measurements. Since these properties must be obtained at a particle (microscopic) level, there is still very little information at this regard. Very few procedures have been described in the scientific literature and, in addition, very little accurate information about the values of the material properties is available so far. The present paper focuses on the determination of the microscopic properties of corn grains and olive fruits used in DEM simulations. For that, the most common procedures used for its direct measurement were initially described. After that, a preliminary material, glass beads, was considered in order to assess the validity of the adopted experimental procedures. Finally, corn grains and olive fruits were tested using the same procedure as for the preliminary material. The following material and interaction properties were considered in the present study: particle density, particle stiffness, particle-wall friction coefficient and particle-particle and particle-wall restitution coefficient. Results obtained are discussed and compared, and some practical recommendations about the use and improvement of these experimental methodologies for the case of irregular particles are presented in this paper.
International
Si
Congress
2011 ASABE Annual International Meeting
960
Place
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Reviewers
Si
ISBN/ISSN
9781618391568
Start Date
07/08/2011
End Date
11/08/2011
From page
1
To page
13
Proceedings of the ASABE Annual International Meeting
Participants
Research Group, Departaments and Institutes related
  • Creador: Grupo de Investigación: Edificación, Infraestructura y Proyectos en Ingeniería Rural y Medioambiental (EIPIRMA)
  • Departamento: Construcción y Vías Rurales