3D particle tracking in a mill: A rigorous technique for verifying DEM predictions

An automated 3D tracking technique, Govender et al. (2000), is employed to study the motion of particles deep within the tumbling ball charge of an ex perimental grinding mill. A Biplanar Angioscope, coupled with a fully autom ated imaging technique, accurately locates the 3D coordinates of the partic les anywhere in the mill. Particle trajectories for five speeds, ranging fr om 55 to 85 percent critical, two lifter profiles, 90 degree and curved, an d a range of tracked-particle sizes and densities were used in the experime ntal work. The final 3D coordinates of the tracked particle trajectories ar e accurate to within 0.2 mm. With an average of 32 circulations per run, th e data can be used for rigorous and accurate verification in the numerical modelling of the rumbling ball motion in mills. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.