Rock Cutting Simulation of Point Attack Picks Using the Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics Technique and the Cumulative Damage Model

Abstract

Various numerical methods have been used to simulate the rock cutting process. Numerical simulation is a useful tool for estimating the performance of a cutting tool and for understanding the mechanism of rock cutting and interaction between a cutting tool and the rock. These methods supplement the rock cutting test, which is commonly referred to as the linear cutting machine (LCM) test. Mechanical excavators, such as roadheaders, longwall shearers, and trenchers, generally use pick cutters as the cutting tool. In this study, a rock cutting simulation with a pick cutter was developed using the smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) technique, which is a mesh-free Lagrangian method. The Drucker–Prager (DP) strength model was used to simulate the brittle behavior of rock. The cumulative damage (CD) model was used to simulate the degraded fragmentation process of rock and the distinctive behavior of rock in the compression and tensile stress regions. In this study, an attempt was made to simulate sequential cutting by multiple pick cutters. The results showed that the numerical simulation matched the experimental results closely in terms of cutter forces, specific energy, and the fragmentation phenomenon. These results confirmed the applicability of the SPH technique in simulating the rock cutting process.