Analysis of Bulk Solids Conveying Systems

The Discrete-Element-Method (DEM) is based on the calculation of the contact forces on single particles under consideration of the mass and the momentum of inertia of the particles. Calculation methods based on continuum mechanics depend on the basic equations maintenance of mass, principle of linear momentum and energy conservation equation and are used on any randomly chosen area of the flow. With an effective combination of both methods in a hybrid basic approach, existing problems could be solved faster and more precisely.
Up until now only idealized and indivisible balls were used during the simulation of flow of bulk materials with DEM, as any other geometric shapes would have required considerably higher computational efforts. During a research project the various shapes of bulk materials and especially the changes from crushing or fragmentation of these bulk materials during the transport via continuous belts is simulated.
The simulation results will be verified both by using the existing laboratory conveyor belt system at the Institute of Mechanical Handling and Logistics of the University of Stuttgart which consists of seven different conveyors and through the determination of the bulk goods properties in the laboratory.