Numerical Simulation of the Contact Behaviour of Granular Matters with Heterogeneous surfaces

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Granular materials refer to a class of natural and synthetic materials consisting of individual particles that interact with each other when subjected to loading. These materials behave differently from usual solids and exhibit many salient features such as dilatancy, anisotropy, pressure dependence, density dependence, and nonlinear elasticity. The mechanical behaviour of granular materials is a subject of long-standing interest in many fields, with both scientific fascination and practical importance such as high value manufacturing, nano-technology, pharmaceuticals, geotechnics etc. The overall response of a granular materials is highly dependent on the packing patterns and interactions of the constituent particles which are, further, closely related to the characteristics of the particles. Based on recent advancements in the understanding of contact behaviour in granular materials, it is known that surface irregularities play significant roles in the transfer of energy and forces between particles and dictate macroscopic behaviours of such materials. Academic and industrial community desperately need new models that can accommodate surface roughness in the calculations of forces and therefore predict the performance of granular matter. Leeds University is a pivotal place to tackle this ground breaking issue since it has two world class institutes of "Tribology" and "Particle technology" to get together the top expertise in surface roughness characterisation and contact modelling with particle flow and characterisation. This project will be a great opportunity for a high class student to be involved in a joint project between these two institutes. The project will be a computational project utilising the state-of-the-art modelling capability at the institute of Functional Surfaces and the industrially used commercial model based on Discrete Element Method available in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering. There is an opportunity for the student to collaborate with a number of academics and industries in a big consortium (Manufacture using Advanced Powder Processes, https://mapp.ac.uk/ ) and also being part of a Centre for Doctoral training in Integrated Tribology https://www.it-cdt.co.uk/. The student will also be part of the world-leading Institute of Functional Surfaces working along with about 70 PhD students and 25 PDRAs to facilitate the dissemination of the project.