A model for the simulation of powder compaction processes

In this work the simulation of the powder compaction process, in the context of Powder Metallurgy, is numerically investigated. The procedure considers that the powder is being modeled by a complete smooth three surface Cap model and makes use of a spatial approximation which is performed in the context of the element-free Galerkin (EFG) method. The constitutive model is written in terms of the rotated Kirchhoff stress and of its logarithmic strain conjugate measure. A total Lagrangian description is considered and the imposition of the essential boundary condition is made by the augmented Lagrangian method. The contact formulation used in this work assumes the Signorini condition. In order to apply the EFG method, the body domain is partitioned into a triangular background integration mesh, with the particles positioned at the vertices. Some numerical results are presented, in order to attest the performance of the proposed methodology. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved.