Numerical simulation of the dynamic impact breakage testing of rock

Laboratory drop weight tests and numerical modelling have been used to study the effect of impact energy on the degree of fragmentation of cylindrical granite specimens. The drop weight tests indicated that the degree of fragmentation of the granite formed a non-linear relation with impact energy. In the modelling of the drop weight test, the shear localisation developed in the granite was assumed to represents discrete fracture planes. Image analysis of the model outputs was undertaken to determine particle size distributions. Corresponding grading curves from the numerical modelling were then validated against the laboratory derived curves indicating the potential of numerical modelling to simulate the fragmentation process of brittle rocks.