Discrete element method simulation of the restitutive characteristics of a steel spherical projectile from a particulate aggregation

The dynamic behavior of monodispersed particulate aggregation subjected to projectile impact at velocities less than 16 m/s is investigated numerically by the discrete element method (DEM). The particulate aggregation consists of mono-size nylon spheres arranged regularly and three-dimensionally in a rectangular parallelepiped container. A steel sphere vertically strikes a nylon sphere or several nylon spheres near the center in the top layer of aggregated particles. In particular, the effects of several impact conditions on the rebound velocity of the steel projectile are discussed in detail. As a result, it is found that the rebound velocity of the steel projectile depends upon the lateral gap between nylon spheres, the ratio of the radius of the steel projectile to the radius of nylon spheres and the impact position of the steel projectile.