Use the Breakage Post-processing tool

EDEM offers a built-in tool called Breakage Particle Size Distribution to provide access to the size distribution of fine particles.

To use the breakage post -processing tool:
  1. Go to File > Export > Breakage Particle Size Distribution.
  2. Set the Timestep Start: to 5 s.
  3. Set the Timestep End: to 5 s.
  4. Select OreParticle from the Breakage Particle dropdown list.
  5. Set the Minimum Diameter (mm) to 1 mm.
  6. Specify the name of the Output file (csv) to Breakage_Tutorial_psd.csv.
  7. Select the Save Graph of Results (png) checkbox and specify the name as Breakage_Tutorial_plot.png.
  8. Click Export.
    Note:
    • To be able to achieve continuous breakage, you must apply the particle replacement approach sequentially, recognizing that each fragment generated is a new particle in the system that can also break again if stressed beyond its fracture energy. Therefore, all breakable particles are being replaced by sets of families of fragments with different size distributions, replicating real-world scenarios until the minimum specified particle size is reached after which the particles will no longer break.

      However. once the simulation is completed, considering the intensity of the breakage events, you can analyze the particles to calculate the corresponding distribution of fines that may have been generated below the minimum specified size. This method uses computational efficiency and extends the size distribution without the need to create finer particles within the EDEM simulation.

    • The minimum diameter is not the same as the D Minimum specified in EDEM Creator, but is the minimum size of the fines that you want to achieve.
    • The Lambda parameter refers to the percentage passing of fines, and it is estimated based on the t4 and t75 values (whenever comprehensive experimental data exists). For most materials, it is found to be between 0.49 and 0.63. If the default value is used then EDEM will use a random value within that range.
    • Once the script is executed, two files containing data about the particle size distribution will be saved in the specified folder as follows: