EDEM Research Spotlight- Calibration of DEM parameters for cohesive powder flow

Rahul_P1

Calibration of DEM parameters for cohesive powder flow

RESEARCHER

Prathamesh Sankhe

INSTITUTE

Purdue University, USA

DEPARTMENT

Mechanical Engineering

SUPERVISOR

Dr. Carl Wassgren

TIMELINE

August 2019 - May 2021

In this project we're developing methods for calibrating DEM parameters for several cohesive pharmaceutical powders.  The DEM models will be used to predict powder flow behavior during storage and feeding.  The calibration effort includes the development of an optimization algorithm to vary DEM input parameters in order to minimize the error between the DEM predictions and corresponding simple experimental systems.  DEM parameters to be varied include contact stiffnesses, friction coefficients, coefficients of restitution, and cohesive energies.  Sensitivity to these parameters, as well as to particle size distribution and density will also be investigated.  Predictions from the DEM simulation using the calibrated parameters will be compared to those from corresponding, more complex experimental systems. Sponsor AbbVie

Figure 1. Flodex device simulation

Figure 2. Shear cell simulation

"The Motion Control Utility is a very convenient tool for controling the motion of the geometry based on applied forces/torques."

Prathamesh Sankhe Purdue University