DEM Analysis of Single-Particle Crushing Considering the Inhomogeneity of Material Properties

Crushing characteristics of single particles are the basis of granular material simulation with discrete element method (DEM). To improve the universality and precision of crushable DEM model, inhomogeneous stiffness and strength properties are introduced into the bonded particle method, with which the Weibull distribution and size effect of particle strength can be reproduced without deleting elementary balls. The issues of particle strength and carrying capacity under complex contact conditions are investigated in this work by symmetric loading tests, asymmetric loading tests, and ball–ball loading tests. Results of numerical experiments indicate that particle carrying capacity is significantly influenced by coordination numbers, the symmetry of contact points, as well as the relative size of its neighbors. Contact conditions also show impact on single-particle crushing categories and the origin position of inner particle cracks. The existing stress indexes and assumptions of particle crushing criterion are proved to be inappropriate for general loading cases. Both the inherent inhomogeneity and contact conditions of particles should be taken into consideration in the simulation of granular materials.