Level set splitting in DEM for modeling breakage mechanics

Abstract

Brittle breakage of particles in granular materials has often been modeled using the discrete element method (DEM). DEM is often limited however in its ability to capture particle shape, particularly when used for breakage. This paper presents the first brittle breakage technique where level set functions will allow for the description of arbitrary shape for both particles and fracture surfaces. The breakage model to be described here uses fracture surfaces defined by level sets to take advantage of simple intersection and difference set operations to split particles in both two and three dimensions. We show how this method is implemented and how we can use it to define and apply arbitrary fracture surface shapes. We then give qualitative examples of using the method in both simple and exotic ways. Finally, we model oedometric tests and rock crushing, both very common uses for previous DEM breakage techniques, to present a validation that the method captures the physics of the problem.