Simulation of Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) Mill using Circular-Disks-based Model

Abstract

System of semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill is modeled in this work based on circular-disk objects, which represents not only the ground materials but also the mill liners. Interaction between these objects is through linear spring dash-pot force, which is solved numerically in soft-sphere scheme using molecular dynamics (MD) method. There is also force due to earth gravity. For ground materials a grain consists of several smaller grains, which are attached through some adhesive force. As the ground materials are smashed to the mill liners, when they reach maximum compression, they will be shattered into the smaller grains. Shattering process happens in a special materials motion known as cataracting mode. Friction is not considered in this work due to its complexity.