Discrete Element Modelling (DEM), Finite Element Modeling (FEM), & Computatinal Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Particle handling with electrostatic forces
FEM & DEM one way coulping using EDEM's Field Data Coupling Module. Transient electric filed generated by a series of electrodes connected to a 3-phase voltage source is determined by Infolytica software and then imported to EDEM at different time steps.
Gravity assisted concentrator, Falcon
Falcon concentrator uses centrifugal forces to separate gold particles from lower density grains at 1700 rpm (EDEM/CFX, one-way).
Microwave assisted rock breakage
Micro-cracks formation caused from microwave exsposure in a basalt sample reudces the required breakage energy (EDEM/COMSOL).
Steel Wheel Abrasion Test (SWAT)
Abrasive particles are fed between the sample and a rotating steel wheel (EDEM).
Angle of repose of electrically charged particles
DEM model was calibrated by AoR formation of silica sand (N.K Moghadam & R. Briend 2010) and then used to predict the effect of gravity and electrical charge on the particles in the Moon environment (EDEM Tribocharging Module).
iRing
DEM model of iRing developed by P. Radziszewski et. al. The iRing absorbs the impact of the moon’s rocky surface without bouncing wildly in its low gravity.
Drill bit wear modeling (EDEM)
Tailing pipe wear modeling (EDEM)
And . . .
Wheel-soil interaction [1]
Sub-surface damage
Particle shock absorber [2]
Particle shock absorber [4]
Lifter optimization [3]
Maximizing throughput [4]
Videos
Microwave assisted rock breakage, COMSOL, left: single mode right: multi mode
1 Robin Briend
2 Poorya Hosseini
3 Pengo Chu
4 McGill - UG Mech ENG team