Virtual prototyping of grabs

Co-simulations of discrete element and rigid body models

Doctoral thesis (2016)

Authors

S.W. Lommen Transport Engineering and Logistics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Transport Engineering and Logistics (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2016 S.W. Lommen
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:418996d9-9b48-4349-823e-b78d8349af25
Iron ore Multibody dynamics Discrete element method DEM Grabs Bulk materials Virtual prototyping MBD
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Published Date

2016

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Marine and Transport Technology

Research Group

Transport Engineering and Logistics

Abstract

This dissertation has investigated whether a combination of DEM and MBD can be used for a reliable and accurate environment for predicting grab unloading performance. A grab is a type of bulk material handling equipment used for unloading materials such as coal and iron ore from vessel to shore. Both a grab and iron ore pellets have been modelled and coupled into a co-simulation. Particle stiffness reductions and coarse graining techniques have been developed and applied to reduce computational costs. The developed large scale coupled grab-pellets model compared very well with validation experiments conducted on a bulk terminal with a scissors grab. A demonstration of virtual prototyping of grabs showed that when this model is implemented in the grab design process significant improvements in grab performance can be achieved.