A combined method to model grain crushing with DEM

This paper presents a combined method to model grain crushing effects with discrete element method. This method combines the two most commonly used concepts to model grain crushing in DEM, i.e. the replacement method and the agglomerate method, so that it is both accurate and efficient. The method can be easily implemented. The performance is shown by several DEM simulations of biaxial tests. Particles with different crush-abilities are modeled. DEM simulation results with and without grain crushing are compared and discussed. The change of grain size distribution due to grain crushing is also investigated.