An improved breakage model with a fast-cutting method for simulating the breakage of polyhedral particles

In order to accurately describe the breakage of a large number of particles while ensuring computational efficiency, a particle breakage model based on the particle replacement scheme is proposed within the DEM framework in this work, in which the particles are described by the polyhedral model. Furthermore, a fast-cutting algorithm for polyhedral particles is proposed to accurately reproduce the size distribution of the progeny particles determined by the breakage model. The validation of the algorithm indicates that the number of faces and progeny particles will affect the performance of the algorithm, and the accuracy, efficiency and stability of the algorithm are satisfactory. The breakage probability of a single particle described by the breakage model is validated by an impact test on a single particle. To verify the breakage model as well as the fast-cutting algorithm well describes the fragmentation of not only a single particle but also a large number of particles under the impact, a simulation of particle bed test is carried out, and the passing rates of different size classes of particles are consistent with the experimental results.