Calibration of DEM for cohesive particles in the SLS powder spreading process

In this paper, a new DEM calibration procedure based on two different types of procedures to compare simulation with experiments is proposed. The aim is to find the values of the interfacial adhesive surface energy and the coefficient of rolling friction between the particles to be used in the simulation. The approach adopted is the so-called Bulk Calibration method. The experimental values of the angle of repose and unconfined yield strength, found with a static testing method and by shear testing, respectively, are compared, respectively, with the angle of repose, found in a simulation reproducing the experimental procedure, and the unconfined yield strength, obtained from an idealized uniaxial testing procedure. The simulated DEM particles are spheres equipped with the Hertz Mindlin with JKR contact model. The results suggest that a bulk calibration approach is not able to provide results that are consistent with two simple bulk property evaluations and, therefore, direct ways to estimate the surface energy based on the evaluation of interparticle forces, for example, should preferably be adopted.