The discrete element method for the simulation of ball mills (Q1208765)

The discrete element method (DEM) is a proven numerical technique for modelling the multibody collision behavior of particulate systems. This method is used here to study the motion of ball charge in tumbling mills. A computer code based on DEM has been developed to model the motion of the balls in tumbling mills. The code incorporates a scheme to calculate the applied torque, and hence power input to the mill. A \(55\)-cm ball mill is simulated for two different linear cross-sections --- rectangular and triangular. Results of the simulations pertaining to applied torque are compared with the experiments. It is found that, with a particular model for the coefficient of friction, the predicted torque agrees well with the experiments.