Numerical simulations of impact breakage of a spherical crystalline agglomerate

A numerical study of the micromechanics of impact of a sub-millimetre sized crystalline agglomerate with a target wall has been carried out using gran ular dynamics (or discrete element) simulations. The agglomerate, a spheric al face-centred cubic array of ca. 8000 autoadhesive elastic primary partic les, was assigned different interparticle bond strengths and impacted at di fferent velocities. The effect of impact velocity and bond strength on the evolution of various impact parameters is reported. During loading, a shear -induced pattern of partially fractured planes was created which was dictat ed by the geometry of the impact area and the orientation of the packing pl anes. During unloading, fracture patterns were observed to be sub-sets of t he preformed sheer-induced weakened planes. The fragment size and mass dist ributions after impact have also been examined and related to the intrinsic properties of the agglomerate and the impact parameters. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.