Evaluation of Particle Shape Effect for Mixing Behaviour in a Rotating Drum by DEM Simulation

Abstract

The effect of particle shape on mixing phenomena in a rotating drum was analyzed by experiment and Distinct Element Method （DEM）. Spherical and cube-shaped particles were employed and cube-shaped particle was approximated by a set of spherical particles in the DEM. The methods to decide the number of spherical particles that compose a cube-shaped particle, restitution coefficient and frictional coefficient in the DEM was investigated. The particle flow observed from the DEM agreed with experimental result, and the validity of these techniques and parameters used in the DEM was confirmed. In order to analyze the mixing mechanism of spherical and cube-shaped particles, mixing behavior in the rotating drum was observed and evaluated. The mixing degree of spherical and cube-shaped particles was comparatively similar. On the other hand, mixing rate of cube-shaped particles faster than spherical particles. This result indicates that mixing rate was increased by unsteady-state flow observed in cube-shaped particles.