Discrete element modelling of flexible fibre packing

Langston, Paul; Kennedy, Andrew R.; Constantin, Hannah

Abstract

This paper presents Discrete Element Model simulations of packing of non-cohesive flexible fibres in a cylindrical vessel. No interstitial fluid effects are modelled. Each fibre-particle is modelled as a series of connected sphero-cylinders. In an initial study each particle is modelled a single rigid sphero-cylinder; the method has been used before but this study considers higher aspect ratios up to 30. This posed some modelling challenges in terms of stability which were overcome by imposing limits on the particle angular velocity. The results show very good agreement with experimental data in the literature and more detailed in-house experiments for packing volume fraction. Model results on particle orientation are also shown. The model is developed to include flexibility by connecting sphero-cylinders as sub-elements to describe a particle. Some basic tests are shown for the joint model that connects the sub-elements. The simulation results show similar trends to the rigid particle results with increased packing fraction. The effects of number of sub-elements, joint properties and contact friction are examined. The model has the potential for predicting packing of fibrous particles and fibre bundles relevant to the preparation of preforms for the production of discontinuously-reinforced polymer, ceramic and metallic matrix composites.

Citation

Langston, P., Kennedy, A. R., & Constantin, H. (2015). Discrete element modelling of flexible fibre packing. Computational Materials Science, 96(A), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2014.09.007

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 4, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Oct 1, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 31, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jul 13, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 13, 2017
• Journal: Computational Materials Science
• Print ISSN: 0927-0256
• Electronic ISSN: 0927-0256
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 96
• Issue: A
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2014.09.007
• Keywords: Granular materials; DEM; Packing; Fibres; Aspect ratio
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/742074
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927025614006181?via%3Dihub