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Fragmentation processes in impact of spheres
H A Carmona1, F K Wittel, F Kun
1Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, 60740-903 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Summary
This study reveals how spheres fracture, detailing crack formation and fragment distribution using 3D simulations. The findings enhance understanding of impact fracture mechanics and fragment size patterns.
Area of Science:
- Solid Mechanics
- Computational Materials Science
- Fracture Mechanics
Background:
- Brittle fragmentation is a complex phenomenon crucial for understanding material failure under impact.
- Previous models often simplify the intricate, three-dimensional nature of crack propagation and fragment formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the detailed mechanisms of brittle sphere fragmentation using a sophisticated 3D discrete element model.
- To analyze the initiation and evolution of cracks and their impact on fragment size distribution.
Main Methods:
- Employed a large-scale, three-dimensional discrete element model (DEM) simulating spheres as agglomerates of particles connected by beam-truss elements.
- Focused on analyzing the development of meridional cracks and their penetration to the specimen surface.
Main Results:
- Meridional cracks initiate internally with a quasiperiodic angular distribution.
- Fragment mass distribution for larger fragments exhibits a broad peak, accurately fitted by a two-parameter Weibull distribution.
- Observed fragmentation mechanisms are independent of the model's degree of disorder.
Conclusions:
- The 3D DEM model provides unprecedented insight into brittle fragmentation, capturing experimental observations of fragment shape, impact energy dependence, and mass distribution.
- This research significantly advances the understanding of failure conditions and evolution during impact fracture.
- The internal crack initiation and subsequent surface penetration mechanism is a key finding unique to 3D analyses.
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