Simulation of Effect of Pore Structure on Coke Strength Using 3-dimensional Discrete Element Method

Abstract

The compression and cleavage simulations of cylindrical coke sample using 3-dimensional Discrete Element Method are carried out to investigate failure phenomena of coke, and the results are discussed by comparing with experimental results.
The following assumptions are applied to model coke. Coke matrix is an aggregation of primary particles which are connected by parallel bonds to be broken when the stress exceeds its corresponding bond strength. The voids between the primary particles are considered as pores and ‘large pore balls’ are inserted intentionally to investigate the effect of large pores on the coke strength by regulating their size and location.
According to the results, porosity is the most dominant factor for coke strength when it is compared with the strength of coke matrix texture. When large pores are distributed regularly they strengthen the coke compared with the randomly arranged cases. In the cleavage test, critical strength of coke sample is proportional to the exponential of porosity and minimum coke matrix area fraction of crack propagated cross sections.