Determination of elastic properties of particles using single particle compression test

The current work concerns determining elastic properties of particles when employing single particle uniaxial compression tests. These properties are essential for numerical computations using DEM simulations. Five different particulate materials were tested. Three crystalline materials: dead sea salt, potash and green zirconium spheres. Also, two amorphous materials: GNP and glass spheres. The yield point, elastic contact stiffness and effective modulus of elasticity were determined by characterizing the force-displacement experimental curve. Statistical analysis showed that for some materials the effective modulus of elasticity depends on particle size. Finally, a mathematical model was established that describes the distribution of the effective modulus of elasticity and its dependence on the particle size for salt. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.