Oblique impact simulations of high strength agglomerates

Different type of particle compounds like concrete particles can be considered as a model material of high strength agglomerates. It is necessary to investigate and understand the fracture behaviour of these agglomerates in order to avoid breakage during storage, handling and transportation. The aim of the research is to examine the comminution behaviour of high strength agglomerates during oblique impact loadings. A two dimensional finite element analysis has been carried out to understand stress pattern distributions before crack initiation. Then a two dimensional discrete element method has been performed to study the fragmentation behaviour of the agglomerates. Concrete particles of B35 strength category have been chosen to represent the high strength agglomerates. The analysis is done with oblique impact loadings at different velocities from 7.7 m/s to 180 m/s. The stressing conditions comprise low flow rate transportation and handling to high speed impacts during fall down in bunker, stock piles, ship loading or stressing in crushers and mill operations. Particle size distributions and new surface generation have also been evaluated in the paper. It is shown that at higher velocities, particle size distributions are identical to each other regardless of the impact angle. Increasing impact velocity does not necessarily produce more new surfaces after a certain velocity limit.