GPU DEM simulations and experimental studies of ball milling process for various particle shapes

Abstract

This work describes a comparative study on the milling process modelled by Discrete Element Method and lab-scale experiments. In particular, analogical complex granular media with spherical and polyhedral shaped particles have been used to support the development of Blaze-DEM GPU, which is graphical processor unit (GPU) based computing framework for convex polyhedral particle shapes. DEM simulations and experiments were performed for several filling rate, rotational speed and shaped particles. The experimental and DEM surface profiles are in good agreement that include avalanching, rolling, cascading and cataracting, The various flow regimes have been validated. The GPU allows for the computational efficient simulation of large numbers of particles or more complex polyhedral shaped particles. We consider the dodecahedron in this study. Therefore, GPU based DEM simulation conducted appropriately allows for large-scale industrial investigations to be conducted.