• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.22-27
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• 2018

One problem of the Discrete Element Method is the assumption of a spherical particle shape, which reduces the computing time but significantly limits the application of the DEM to analysis. This limitation can be overcome by a recently developed rigid-rod model. However, the rigid-rod model has an essential problem related with friction: it always contains friction error because of the bumpy surface. To overcome this issue, we suggest a superposed rigid-rod model in this paper. The superposed rigid-rod model is notably consistent with the theoretical value in terms of the velocity and angular velocity after the collision. The estimated error is negligible(less than 2%). Then, the developed model is applied to hopper discharging. The developed model shows no problem in the discharging flow from the hopper.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.977-995
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• 2017

It is well accepted that rock failure mechanism influence the cutting efficiency and determination of optimum cutting parameters. In this paper, an attempt was made to research the factors that affect the failure mechanism based on discrete element method (DEM). The influences of cutting depth, hydrostatic pressure, cutting velocity, back rake angle and joint set on failure mechanism in rock-cutting are researched by PFC2D. The results show that: the ductile failure occurs at shallow cutting depths, the brittle failure occurs as the depth of cut increases beyond a threshold value. The mean cutting forces have a linear related to the cutting depth if the cutting action is dominated by the ductile mode, however, the mean cutting forces are deviate from the linear relationship while the cutting action is dominated by the brittle mode. The failure mechanism changes from brittle mode with larger chips under atmospheric conditions, to ductile mode with crushed chips under hydrostatic conditions. As the cutting velocity increases, a grow number of micro-cracks are initiated around the cutter and the volume of the chipped fragmentation is decreasing correspondingly. The crack initiates and propagates parallel to the free surface with a smaller rake angle, but with the rake angle increases, the direction of crack initiation and propagation is changed to towards the intact rock. The existence of joint set have significant influence on crack initiation and propagation, it makes the crack prone to propagate along the joint.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2019

The understanding of tool-rock interaction mechanism is of high essence for improving the rock breaking efficiency and optimizing the drilling parameters in mechanical rock breaking. In this study, the tool-rock interaction models of indentation and cutting are carried out by employing the discrete element method (DEM) to examine the rock failure modes of various brittleness rocks and critical indentation and cutting depths of the ductile to brittle failure mode transition. The results show that the cluster size and inter-cluster to intra-cluster bond strength ratio are the key factors which influence the UCS magnitude and the UCS to BTS ratio. The UCS to BTS strength ratio can be increased to a more realistic value using clustered rock model so that the characteristics of real rocks can be better represented. The critical indentation and cutting depth decrease with the brittleness of rock increases and the decreasing rate reduces dramatically against the brittleness value. This effort may lead to a better understanding of rock breaking mechanisms in mechanical excavation, and may contribute to the improvement in the design of rock excavation machines and the related parameters determination.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.549-560
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• 2021

Forces exerted on a shield TBM (tunnel boring machine) such as cutter head torque, thrust force, chamber pressure, and upward force are key factors determining TBM performance. However, the forces acting on the TBM when tunnelling the mixed ground have different tendencies compared to that of the uniform ground, which could impair TBM performance. In this study, the effect of mixed ground tunnelling was numerically investigated with torque, thrust force, chamber pressure, and upward force. A coupled discrete element method (DEM) and finite difference method (FDM) model for TBM driving model was used. This numerical study simulates TBM tunnelling in mixed ground composed of upper weathered granite soil and lower weathered rock. The effect on the force acting on the TBM according to the location and slope of the boundary of the mixed ground was numerically examined.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.523-542
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• 2016

Snowdrift formation on roofs should be considered in snowy and windy areas to ensure the safety of buildings. Presently, the prediction of snowdrifts on roofs relies heavily on field measurements, wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations. In this paper, a new snowdrift modeling method by using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) coupled with DEM (Discrete Element Method) is presented, including material parameters and particle size, collision parameters, particle numbers and input modes, boundary conditions of CFD, simulation time and inlet velocity, and coupling calculation process. Not only is the two-way coupling between wind and snow particles which includes the transient changes in snow surface topography, but also the cohesion and collision between snow particles are taken into account. The numerical method is applied to simulate the snowdrift on a typical stepped flat roof. The feasibility of using coupled CFD with DEM to study snowdrift is verified by comparing the simulation results with field measurement results on the snow depth distribution of the lower roof.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.25-31
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• 2015

PURPOSES: Implementation and verification of the simple linear cohesive viscoelastic contact model that can be used to simulate dynamic behavior of sticky aggregates. METHODS: The differential equations were derived and the initial conditions were determined to simulate a free falling ball with a sticky surface from a ground. To describe this behavior, a combination of linear contact model and a cohesive contact model was used. The general solution for the differential equation was used to verify the implemented linear cohesive viscoelastic API model in the DEM. Sensitivity analysis was also performed using the derived analytical solutions for several combinations of damping coefficients and cohesive coefficients. RESULTS : The numerical solution obtained using the DEM showed good agreement with the analytical solution for two extreme conditions. It was observed that the linear cohesive model can be successfully implemented with a linear spring in the DEM API for dynamic analysis of the aggregates. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the derived closed form solutions are applicable for the analysis of the rebounding behavior of sticky particles, and for verification of the implemented API model in the DEM. The assumption of underdamped condition for the viscous behavior of the particles seems to be reasonable. Several factors have to be additionally identified in order to develop an enhanced contact model for an asphalt mixture.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

In order to analyze the influence of particle bonding and crushing on the characteristics of shear behavior, especially residual shear behavior of granular soil, ring shear test was simulated by using DEM(Discrete Element Method)-based software program PFC(Particle Flow Code). Total four models including two non-crushing models and two crushing models were created in this study by using clump or cluster model built in PFC. The applicability of Lobo-crushing model proposed by Lobo-Guerrero and Vallejo(2005) was investigated. In addition, the results of ring shear test were analyzed and compared with those of direct shear test. The results showed that the modelling of ring shear test should be conducted to investigate the residual shear behavior. The Lobo-crushing model cannot be applied to investigate the residual shear strength. Finally, it can be concluded that the numerical models excluding Lobo-crushing model suggested in this study can be used extensively for other studies concerning the residual shear behavior of granular soil including soil crushing.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.86-92
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• 2018

The amount of construction waste generated is steadily increasing every year, and the Law for Promotion of Recycling is enacted. However, it is difficult to use it as a recycled aggregate for concrete, which is presented in the quality standard of recycled aggregate with high water uptake and low density due to low separation of aggregate between concrete and cement paste. Therefore, in this study, a multi-stage impact crusher was used to remove mortar, which is essential for improving the quality of recycled aggregate. In analyzing the characteristics of the equipment, the spectrum of energy generated in each part between the particle and the equipment was calculated by using DEM. In order to generate an effective separation phenomenon, it was confirmed that the operation condition of 900 RPM was appropriate based on the ratio of the number of collisions (L/H) of the low energy group (L) to the number of collisions of the high energy group (H).

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.41-53
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• 2009

In order to analyze the influence of particle shape on evolution of particle crushing and characteristic of shear behavior of granular soil, direct shear test was simulated by using DEM (Discrete Element Method). Six particle shapes were generated by clump and cluster model built in PFC (Particle Flow Code). The results of direct shear test for six particle shapes were compared and analyzed with those for circular particle shape. The results of numerical tests showed a good agreement with those of experimental tests, thus the appropriateness of numerical modelling set in this study was proved. As for particle shape, more angular and rougher particle induced larger internal friction angle and more particle crushing than relatively round and smooth particle. When particles were crushed, crushing was concentrated on the shear band adjacent to the shear plane. Finally, it can be concluded that the numerical models suggested in this study can be used extensively for other studies concerning the shear behavior of granular soil including soil crushing.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2021

The effects of initial soil fabric and aspect ratio (AR) on the small-strain stiffness (G0) of granular soils are studied by employing discrete element method (DEM) numerical analysis. Elongated clumps composed of subspheres were adopted, and the G0 values were obtained by DEM simulations of drained triaxial tests under different densities and initial confining pressure (p0). The DEM simulations indicate that the initial soil fabric has an insignificant effect on G0. The effect of the AR on G0 is related to the initial density. Namely, for dense specimens, G0 first increases with increasing AR, reaching a plateau value when the AR ≥ 1.5. However, for loose specimens, G0 gradually increases as the AR increases. Microscopic examination reveals that G0 uniquely depends on the coordination number of the particles (CN-particle) rather than the subspheres (CN-sphere) at the particulate level for the effects of initial soil fabric and AR. Finally, Poisson's ratio ν0 is also determined by CN-particle. In addition, based on data in literature and this study, ν0 can be fitted as ν0 = 5.920(G0/(p0)1/3)-0.99, which can be used to predict ν0 of granular soils based on the measured G0.