Industrial scale validation of DEM supported grab design

Abstract

This paper describes the DEM simulation supported design approach leading to a breakthrough in grab design. More specifically it aims to demonstrate the full design cycle including evaluation of the grab prototype on full-scale in realistic operational conditions and comparison with the predictions by the DEM-MBD model. Most of the researches involved in improving or optimizing equipment design do not include the practical performance of the optimized design and as such it is hard to judge whether the predicted performance matches the obtained one in full-scale industrial practice. We show the successful prediction of the new design’s performance by comparing the DEM-MBD model to in-situ tests with the newly designed grab prototype. By this a true validation has been established and a validated model has been achieved that is independent of a specific grab design.