Discrete element modelling of the packing of spheres and its application to the structure of porous metals made by infiltration of packed beds of NaCl beads

Langston, P. and Kennedy, Andrew R. (2014) Discrete element modelling of the packing of spheres and its application to the structure of porous metals made by infiltration of packed beds of NaCl beads. Powder Technology, 268. pp. 210-218. ISSN 0032-5910

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Abstract

A numerical model, using the discrete element method, has been developed to quantify specific parameters that are pertinent to the packing behaviour of relatively large, spherical NaCl beads and mixtures of beads of different sizes. These parameters have been compared with porosity and connectivity measurements made on porous aluminium castings made by molten metal infiltration into packed beds of such beads, after removal of the NaCl by dissolution. DEM has been found to accurately predict the packing fraction for salt beads with both mono and binary size distributions and from this the pore fractions in castings made by infiltration into packed beds of beads could be predicted. Through simple development of the condition for contacting of neighbouring beads, the number of windows linking neighbouring pores, and their size, could also be predicted across a wide range of small bead additions. The model also enables an insight into the mixing quality and changes in connectivity introduced through the addition of small beads. This work presents significant progress towards the delivery of a simulation based approach to designing preform architectures in order to tailor the resulting porous structures to best suit specific applications.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Powder Technology
Additional Information:
This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Physics Reports. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Powder Technology, 268, 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2014.08.018
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1500
Subjects:
?? DISCRETE ELEMENT METHODPARTICLE PACKINGCOORDINATION NUMBERPOROUS METALSCHEMICAL ENGINEERING(ALL) ??
ID Code:
87975
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
06 Oct 2017 19:36
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Sep 2023 01:15