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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.; Kennedy, Andrew R.

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 Thumbnail


Authors

P. Langston

Andrew R. Kennedy



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.

Citation

Langston, P., & Kennedy, A. 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, 210-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2014.08.018

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 13, 2014
Online Publication Date Aug 20, 2014
Publication Date 2014-12
Deposit Date Jun 28, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Powder Technology
Print ISSN 0032-5910
Electronic ISSN 0032-5910
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 268
Pages 210-218
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2014.08.018
Keywords Discrete element method ; Particle packing ; Coordination number ; Porous metals
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/738750
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032591014007189
Additional Information This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: 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; Journal Title: Powder Technology; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2014.08.018; Content Type: article; Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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