Estimation of excavation forces in conditions of a complex cutting trajectory with asymmetrical disc tools in DEM method

Abstract

The application of asymmetric disc tools is one of the directions of development of mechanical mining techniques with high development potential. An important issue to be explored in this regard is the development of a methodology for simulation studies of mining tools (disc tools) in conditions corresponding to real conditions, i.e. in a situation of complex kinematics of mining process.The article describes the full procedure of model tests, the aim of which was to identify the loads of asymmetric disc tools with the assumption of complex kinematics of mining process. The research was based on an example of a new solution of a mining disc head with asymmetric disk tools with a diameter of 160 mm. The article presents an analytical model of the disc tools kinematics of the mining disc head and, on its basis, the trajectories of the disc tools were determined. Then, the procedure of calibration of DEM models of rock samples used for simulation studies was presented. In the main phase of the research, the developed kinematics model of the mining disc head was implemented together with the DEM model of the rock sample to conduct dynamic mining tests. Simulation tests were successfully performed in LS – Dyna. The tests were carried out similar to real tests using a mining disk head. Finally, the results of the field and simulation tests were compared in order to assess the adequacy of the developed simulation model.