Sebastian Pazmiño and Daniel Bustamante introduce «A generalized three-dimensional discrete element method with electrostatic induced cohesion». This work is now available at the prestigious scientific journal Granular Matter.

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Abstract:

Granular materials can acquire electrostatic charges during collisions in various industrial processes. The present work is dedicated to the mechanical simulation of granular media using a method of discrete cohesive elements. It is a model based on packages composed of three-dimensional grains of arbitrary shape obtained from real samples by combining X-ray computerized tomography (3DXRCT) and mathematical functions called level sets. The electrostatic cohesion is introduced in the scale of the particles by incorporating an electric charge density on the surface of the grains. The effect of the introduction of electrostatic cohesion is visualized by the construction of Mohr circles in which an axial compression process is carried out on the packing, while the walls of this packing are kept at different confining pressures.