Calibration of Selected Bulk Biomaterials Parameters for DEM Simulation of Comminution Process. Case Study – Corn and Rice Grains

Abstract

Computer simulation of bulk materials behavior, including comminution and fragmentation, using DEM has been growing fast, recently. One of the important tasks to get the reliable simulation results is to provide proper materials and contact parameters, which need to be determined in a series of laboratory experiments. For comminution simulation the additional parameters describing the breakage probability and breakage functions are necessary. While some simulation parameters are available in the literature for brittle materials, valid data are lacking for bio-materials such as cereal, rice or corn grains, especially for comminution parameters. The aim of this study was to present the calibration approach and determination of materials, contact, interaction and breakage parameters for grainy biomaterials. The calibration process was done for rice and corn grains. The calibration approach consists of grains size distribution and shape characterization, friction and restitution coefficient determination, and breakage probability description. Based on the results of the experiments, the models were created in the DEM software. The result was the set of calibrated parameters for rice and corn grains.