DRYING-INDUCED CRACKING OF ABRASIVE RINGS - RISK PREDICTION AND PROCESS OPTIMIZATION BY NUMERICAL-SIMULATION

The dependence of the mechanical stresses distribution on the water co ntent and temperature profiles has been numerically investigated in a porous unsaturated hygroscopic abrasive agglomerate of annular shape. The thermophysical, kinetic and mechanical properties of the abrasive agglomerate were determined experimentally. The simulations have been applied to unfired abrasive rings convective drying optimisation by fi tting operating conditions in order to avoid cracks formation.