Recent progress on the discrete element method simulations for powder transport systems: A review

Powder transport systems are ubiquitous in various industries, where they can encounter single powder flow, two-phase flow with solids carried by gas or liquid, and gas–solid–liquid three-phase flow. System geometry, operating conditions, and particle properties have significant impacts on the flow behavior, making it difficult to achieve good transportation of granular materials. Compared to experimental trials and theoretical studies, the numerical approach provides unparalleled advantages over the investigation and prediction of detailed flow behavior, of which the discrete element method (DEM) can precisely capture complex particle-scale information and attract a plethora of research interests. This is the first study to review recent progress in the DEM and coupled DEM with computational fluid dynamics for extensive powder transport systems, including single-particle, gas–solid/solid–liquid, and gas–solid–liquid flows. Some important aspects (i.e., powder electrification during pneumatic conveying, pipe bend erosion, non-spherical particle transport) that have not been well summarized previously are given special attention, as is the application in some new-rising fields (ocean mining, hydraulic fracturing, and gas/oil production). Studies involving important large-scale computation methods, such as the coarse grained DEM, graphical processing unit-based technique, and periodic boundary condition, are also introduced to provide insight for industrial application. This review study conducts a comprehensive survey of the DEM studies in powder transport systems.     

离子型稀土矿山淋洗及尾水富集试验研究

对浸矿后离子型稀土原地浸矿场采用清水进行淋洗，在184天的清水淋洗过程中，尾水氨氮值从最开始的507mg/L，降低至140mg/L，淋洗尾水pH4.52~3.10。淋洗尾水采用两级反渗透膜分离，既回收有价资源稀土，又能使出水氨氮达标。结果表明，产水氨氮浓度稳定低于15mg/L，对稀土的截留率高于98.25%，浓水中稀土离子平均浓度313.4mg/L，可进一步回收稀土资源。     

地应力条件下的凿岩爆破数值模拟

为了研究地应力对凿岩爆破的影响,采用DDA方法模拟爆炸应力波作用下考虑地应力条件时的单孔和多孔凿岩爆破破岩过程。模拟发现,随着初始地应力水平的增加,裂纹扩展半径和破岩区域面积减小,裂纹发育主方向趋于地应力的最大主应力方向,初始地应力对裂纹的抑制和引导作用明显;初始地应力水平的增加,对拉伸裂纹的抑制作用更为显著,从而降低了拉伸破坏对爆破破岩的贡献。模拟也表明,在初始地应力存在的条件下,通过对爆破载荷和炮孔布置进行针对性的优化,可以克服地应力带来的影响,并取得预期的爆破效果。本研究对地应力条件下的凿岩爆破工程具有理论和参考意义。     

Direct shear behavior of gravel-rubber mixtures: Discrete element modeling and microscopic investigations

In this paper, a newly developed 3-dimentional discrete element model (DEM) for gravel-rubber mixtures (GRMs), namely DEM4GRM, that is capable of accurately describing the macro-scale shear response (from small to large deformation) of GRMs in a direct shear box apparatus is presented. Rigid gravel grains are modelled as simple multi-shape clumps, while soft rubber particles are modeled by using deformable 35-ball body-centered-cubic clusters. Mixtures are prepared with different volumetric rubber content (VRC) at 0, 10, 25, 40 and 100%, statically compressed under 30, 60 and 100 kPa vertical stress and then sheared, by closely simulating a reference laboratory test procedure. The variation of micro-scale factors such as fabric, normal and tangential force anisotropy is carefully examined throughout the shearing process and described by means of novel micro-mechanical relationships valid for GRMs. Moreover, strong-force chains are scrutinized to identify the transition from rigid to soft granular skeleton and gain insights on the load transfer and deformation mechanisms of GRMs. It is shown that the development of the fabric and force anisotropy during shearing is closely related to the macro-scale shear strength of GRMs, and strongly depends on the VRC. Besides, strong-force chains appear to be primarily formed by gravel-gravel contacts (resulting in a rigid-like mechanical behavior) up to VRC = 30%, and by rubber-rubber contacts (causing a soft-like mechanical response) beyond VRC = 60%. Alternatively, at 30% < VRC < 60%, gravel-rubber contacts are predominant in the strong-force network and an intermediate mechanical behavior is observed. This is consistent with the behavioral trends observed in the macro- and micro-mechanical responses.     

In-situ measurement of mineral phase transition and kinetics in roasting process of Bayan Obo mixed rare earth concentrate by sodium carbonate

In this study, the Bayan Obo rare earth concentrates mixed with Na₂CO₃ were used for roasting research. The phase change process of each firing stage was analyzed. The kinetic mechanism model of the continuous heating process was calculated. This study aims to recover valuable elements and optimize the production process to provide a certain theoretical basis. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry, the reaction process and the existence of mineral phases were analyzed. The variable temperature XRD and thermogravimetric method were used to calculate the roasting kinetics. The phase transition results show that carbonate-like substances first decompose into fine mineral particles, and CaO, MgO, and SiO₂ react to form silicates, causing hardening. Further, REPO₄ and NaF can directly generate CeF₃ and CeF₄ at high temperatures, and a part of CeF₄ and NaF forms a solid solution substance Na₃CeF₇. Rare earth oxides calcined at a high temperature of 750 °C were separated to produce Ce_0.6Nd_0.4O_1.8, Ce₄O₇, and LaPrO_3+x. Then, BaSO₄, Na₂CO₃, and Fe₂O₃ react to form barium ferrite BaFe₁₂O₁₉; the kinetic calculation results show that during the continuous heating process, the apparent activation energy E reaches the minimum in the entire reaction stage in the temperature range of 440–524 °C, and the reaction order n reaches the maximum, which indicates that the decomposition product REFO significantly impacts the reaction system and reduces the activation energy. The mechanism function is F(α) = [?ln (1?α)]^1/3. The reaction order n reaches the minimum in the temperature range of 680–757 °C, and the apparent activation energy E is large. The difficulty of the reaction increases during the final stage. The reaction mechanism function is F(α) = [1?(1?α)^1/3]². Observing the entire reaction stage, the step of controlling the reaction rate changes from random nucleation to three-dimensional diffusion (spherical symmetry).     

Synthesis,microstructures, and corrosion behaviors of multi-components rare-earth silicates

Multi-components and equimolar rare earth monosilicates, (Y_1/3Dy_1/3Er_1/3)₂SiO₅, (Y_1/3Dy_1/3Lu_1/3)₂SiO₅, (Y_1/4Dy_1/4Ho_1/4Er_1/4)₂SiO₅ and (Yb_1/4Dy_1/4Ho_1/4Er_1/4)₂SiO₅, were prepared by solid-state reactions and the following hot-pressing. Dense microstructures with uniform elemental distributions were obtained for all samples. These investigated multi-components monosilicates exhibit low thermal conductivities and similar coefficients of thermal expansion with SiC. Moreover, they exhibit high corrosion resistances in 1400 °C water vapor, especially, four-components (Y_1/4Dy_1/4Ho_1/4Er_1/4)₂SiO₅ and (Yb_1/4Dy_1/4Ho_1/4Er_1/4)₂SiO₅ experienced almost invariable weights after small weight losses during the initial 0.5 h. All those results indicate that multi-components rare earth monosilicates are promising candidates of environmental barrier coatings for SiC/SiC composites.     

Evidence of fluid evolution of Baoshan Cu−Pb−Zn polymetallic deposit: Constraints from in-situ sulfur isotope and trace element compositions of pyrite

In-situ LA-ICP-MS and S isotopes of pyrite from the Baoshan Cu polymetallic deposit were conducted to investigate the ore-forming process and the enrichment mechanism of elements. Three generations of pyrite (Py I, Py II, and Py III) in the skarn-type ores and pyrite in the carbonate-hosted sulfide ores from central, western, and northern (C_Py, W_Py, and N_Py) mining districts are selected for comparison. Compared with Py I and Py III, the contents of most elements in Py II are apparently higher. The As and Se contents are high within a wide range and are decoupled in the growth band of the C_Py. The highest As, Se, and Pb contents were found in W_Py and N_Py. These results indicate the drastic changes in the temperature and fluid mixing during the mineralization. The occurrence of fluctuation and change in temperature and f(O₂) was triggered by intermittent pulses of magmatic-hydrothermal fluids, mixing with meteoric water, and water−rock interactions. The sulfur isotopes of all species of pyrite indicated the magmatic source. The change in the f(O₂) conditions caused slight differences in the sulfur isotope compositions. Consequently, a metallogenic model was proposed to explain the ore-forming processes.     

梯度铝蜂窝夹芯板的力学行为

梯度分层铝合金蜂窝板是一种有效的吸能结构,本工作在梯度铝蜂窝结构的基础上根据梯度率的概念,通过改变蜂窝芯层的胞壁长度,设计了4种质量相同、梯度率不同的铝蜂窝夹芯结构。通过准静态压缩实验,并结合非线性有限元模拟准静态及冲击态下梯度铝蜂窝夹芯结构的变形情况及其力学性能,分析对比了相同质量下梯度铝蜂窝夹芯结构在准静态下的变形模式以及冲击载荷下分层均质蜂窝结构和不同梯度率的分层梯度蜂窝结构的动态响应和能量吸收特性。结果表明:在准静态压缩过程中,铝蜂窝梯度夹芯板的变形具有明显的局部化特征,蜂窝芯的变形为低密度优先变形直至密实,层级之间的密实化应变差随芯层密度的增大而逐渐减小;在高速冲击下,梯度蜂窝板并非严格按照准静态过程中逐级变形直至密实,而是在锤头冲击惯性及芯层密度的相互作用下整体发生的线弹性变形、弹性屈曲、塑性坍塌及密实化;另外,在本工作所设计的梯度率中,当梯度率为γ₁=0.0276时,梯度蜂窝夹芯板的吸能性达到最好,相较于同等质量下的均质蜂窝夹芯板,能量吸收提高了10.63%。