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Computer simulation of morphology and packing behaviour of irregular particles, for predicting apparent powder densities

Smith, Lyndon Neal; Midha, Prem Sagar

Computer simulation of morphology and packing behaviour of irregular particles, for predicting apparent powder densities Thumbnail


Authors

Lyndon Smith Lyndon.Smith@uwe.ac.uk
Professor in Computer Simulation and Machine

Prem Sagar Midha



Abstract

This paper describes a methodology for prediction of powder packing densities which employs a new approach, designated as random sphere construction (RSC), for modelling the shape of irregular particles such as those produced by water atomization of iron. The approach involves modelling an irregular particle as a sphere which incorporates smaller corner spheres located randomly at its surface. The RSC modelling technique has been combined with a previously developed particle packing algorithm (the random build algorithm), to provide a computer simulation of irregular particle packings. Analysis of the simulation output data has allowed relationships to be established between the particle modelling parameters employed by the RSC algorithm, and the density of the simulated packings. One such parameter is η, which is the number of corner spheres per particle. A relationship was established between η (which was found to have a profound influence on packing density), and the fractional density of the packing, fd. Vision system techniques were used to measure the irregularity of the simulated particles, and this was also related to η. These two relationships were then combined to provide a plot of fractional density for a simulated packing against irregularity of the simulated particles. A comparison was made of these simulated packing densities and observed particle packing densities for irregular particles, and a correlation coefficient of 0.96 was obtained. This relatively good correlation indicates that the models developed are able to realistically simulate packing densities for irregular particles. There are a considerable number of potential applications for such a model in powder metallurgy (PM), process control. In combination with on-line particle image analysis, the model could be used to automatically predict powder densities from particle morphology.

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Mar 1, 1997
Publicly Available Date Jun 9, 2019
Journal Computational Materials Science
Print ISSN 0927-0256
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 7
Issue 4
Pages 377-383
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/S0927-0256%2897%2900003-7
Keywords irregular particles, apparent powder density, powder metallurgy
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1102615
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0927-0256(97)00003-7
Related Public URLs http://www.journals.elsevier.com/computational-materials-science/

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