Nonlinear finite element modeling of the impact of spherical and sharp brittle particles against a flat surface

Resumo

An impact is defined as a sudden transfer of energy between solids, which often leads to forces of high
magnitude and subsequent damage. Moreover, the repetitive impact of brittle particles on protective surfaces,
enables a failure mechanism known as erosive wear. In this work, a finite element model of the impact of brittle
particles is presented. Two geometries are studied: a sphere and a polygon with sharp edges. Firstly, the proposed
model is validated, in a linear setting, using the classical Hertz’s theory. In a second setting, the particles are
regarded as sedimentary rocks while the flat counterpart is defined as a thick layer of steel coated with protective
materials. Further analysis, including nonlinear phenomena such as frictional contact, finite inelastic strains,
damage and fracture and provided alongside with a discussion on the failure mechanisms observed. Result show
the influence of the particle’s shape weight and speed on the failure of the counterpart.