DEM Modelling of the Digging Process of Gravel: Influence of Particle Roundness

To improve the energy efficiency of construction and mining machineries such as hydraulic excavator and bulldozer, it is important to optimize the shape of tools, which are used to handle ground materials directly such as buckets and blades, and earthmoving processes. It is impossible without a deep understanding of interactions between mechanical tools and ground materials. In the present study, a DEM model based on multi-sphere approach is developed for the gravel excavation process using a hydraulic excavator bucket. Granular materials in nature include several geometrical factors over different scales and it is computationally expensive to model real particle shapes as they are, especially for practical engineering design problems. It is mandatory to develop a simplified model which only includes essential geometrical factors that are important for gravel-tool interactions. In the present study, the role of particle roundness on digging process is investigated. We find that smaller roundness prevents the rotational motion of particles and strengthens the shear resistance of the layer. In addition, particles with higher angular velocity are localized in a narrow zone where the formation of shear band is expected during digging processes.