Particles Mass Loss

[luis_andueza]

Hi everyone,

I don´t know if this topic belongs here or to multiphysics, but anyway, here it is.

I want to simulate a process that involves a flow of rocks thru chutes, and here are the questions:

- Am I able to define the geometry of the particles with an own CAD model?

- Am I able to calculate the rocks mass loss due to clash of the process itself?

- It is possible to calculate the stress state of the chutes due to this flow of rocks?

I know it sounds kind of impossible simulation, but, it is possible? or, is there any software that could do that?

Thanks.

Luis

[AstroJohnPE]

Hi Luis,

It is theoretically possible to perform the simulation using the analysis type of "Nonlinear > MES". What you would need to do is define surface-to-surface contact between anything that can contact anything else.

The possible problem is the number of contact elements that would need to be created. If the chute can hold 100 rocks at a time, it would take time to setup the contact so that it is efficient, and then it would require a lot of RAM on the computer, and then it would require a long runtime. If the chute only holds 10 rocks at a time, then it should be possible to define the contacts between the items without going overboard. For example, the first rock into the chute is not likely to touch the last rock, so do not waste resources defining the contact between them.

The rocks will not break in the simulation, so you will not be able to calculate any mass loss. But the answer to the other two questions is yes.

[Anonymous]

Great info thank you.