DEM breakage calibration for single particle fracture of maize kernels under a particle replacement approach

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) has become increasingly popular for simulating breakage operations and grinding equipment performance. Two main breakage approaches can be found in literature: bonded particle models and particle replacement models. This work is focused on fitting the parameters of a DEM particle replacement breakage model for maize, implemented in software Rocky DEM. Once all required experimental and calibration procedures were developed for maize specific DEM properties and parameters, single particle compression tests were carried out to fit the parameters of the breakage model, which was extensively analyzed for validating its capability of representing the material. Maize properties showed to be in agreement with literature sources. Compression tests simulated in DEM led to the same results as their experimental counterparts, validating the model’s capability of representing maize breakage. These results are the basis for further simulation of a full milling process in a hammer mill.