Publications
Visualization and Simulation of Particle Rearrangement and Deformation During Powder Compaction
Two key mechanical processes exist in the formation of powder compacts. These include the complex kinematics of particle rearrangement as the powder is densified and particle deformation leading to mechanical failure and fragmentation. Experiments measuring the time varying forces across a densifying powder bed have been performed in powders of microcrystalline cellulose with mean particle sizes between 0.4 and 1.2 mm. In these experiments, diagnostics measured the applied and transmitted loads and the bulk powder density. Any insight into the particle behavior must be inferred from deviations in the smoothly increasing stress-density compaction relationship. By incorporating a window in the compaction die body, simultaneous images of particle rearrangement and fracture at the confining window are captured. The images are post-processed in MATLAB® to track individual particle motion during compression. Complimentary discrete element method (DEM) simulations are presented and compared to experiment. The comparison provides insight into applying DEM methods for simulating large or permanent particle deformation and suggests areas for future study.