A micromechanical analysis of local contact at die compaction of powder materials

The present investigation concerns a finite element study of the local contact behavior of spherical powders in unit cell arrangements. Numerical results related to die compaction of unit cells of regular body-centered cubic lattices have been compared to previous analytical and numerical findings describing especially local but also global contact at powder compaction. In particular, previously published results concerning self-similarity contact are of interest here. Results relevant for isostatic compaction are also presented for comparative reasons. The finite element calculations are continued up to full density of solid material in the unit cells. The powder assembly is assumed to be composed of monolithic powder material.