Coupled FEM-DEM for Determination of Payload Distribution on Tipper Load Body

Abstract

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">Tippers used for transporting blue metal, construction and mining material is designed with different types of load body to suit the material being carried, capacity and its application. These load bodies are constructed with high strength material to withstand forces under various operating conditions. Structural strength verification of load body using FEM is conducted, by modelling forces due to payload as a pressure function on the panels of the load body. The spatial variation of pressure is typically assumed.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">In discrete element method (DEM) granular payload material such as gravel, wet or dry sand, coal etc., can be modelled by accounting its flow and interaction with structure of load body for prediction of force/pressure distribution. In this paper, coupled FE-DEM is used for determining pressure distribution on loading surfaces of a tipper body structure of a heavy commercial vehicle during loading, unloading and transportation. This pressure is mapped onto the load body panels for structural verification. Also, the model is used for computing the CG of the granular bulk material which is then used for full vehicle analysis to estimate wheel reaction forces.</div></div>