Fragmentation processes in impact of spheres

Abstract

We study the brittle fragmentation of spheres by using a three-dimensional Discrete Element Model. Large scale computer simulations are performed with a model that consists of agglomerates of many particles, interconnected by beam-truss elements. We focus on the detailed development of the fragmentation process and study several fragmentation mechanisms. The evolution of meridional cracks is studied in detail. These cracks are found to initiate in the inside of the specimen with quasi-periodic angular distribution. The fragments that are formed when these cracks penetrate the specimen surface give a broad peak in the fragment mass distribution for large fragments that can be fitted by a two-parameter Weibull distribution. This mechanism can only be observed in 3D models or experiments. The results prove to be independent of the degree of disorder in the model. Our results significantly improve the understanding of the fragmentation process for impact fracture since besides reproducing the experimental observations of fragment shapes, impact energy dependence and mass distribution, we also have full access to the failure conditions and evolution.

References in corpus (8)

• Transition from damage to fragmentation in collision of solids
• A study of fragmentation processes using a discrete element method
• Fragmentation of shells
• Crossover of the weighted mean fragment mass scaling in 2D brittle fragmentation
• Fragmentation of a Circular Disc by Impact on a Frictionless Plate
• Fragmentation of Colliding Discs
• Break-up of shells under explosion and impact
• Computer simulation of fatigue under diametrical compression

Cited by in corpus (16)

• New universality class for the fragmentation of plastic materials
• Coupled DEM-LBM method for the free-surface simulation of heterogeneous suspensions
• Rupture cascades in a discrete element model of a porous sedimentary rock
• Approach to failure in porous granular materials under compression
• A cohesive granular material with tunable elasticity
• En route to a multi-model scheme for clinker comminution with chemical grinding aids
• From fracture to fragmentation: discrete element modeling -- Complexity of crackling noise and fragmentation phenomena revealed by discrete element simulations
• Fragmentation processes in two-phase materials
• Emergence of energy dependence in the fragmentation of heterogeneous materials
• Experimental analysis of lateral impact on planar brittle material
• Universal behavior in fragmenting brittle, isotropic solids across material properties
• Empirical rule of fruit rind fragmentation in muskmelon netting
• Study of the combined effect of temperature, pH and water activity on the radial growth rate of the white-rot basidiomycete Physisporinus vitreus by using a hyphal growth model
• Hierarchical structures for a robustness-oriented capacity design
• Blending stiffness and strength disorder can stabilize fracture
• Progressive Collapse Mechanisms of Brittle and Ductile Framed Structures