Optimisation of a vibro-packing process through simulation and experiment
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
Vibro-packing is a technique used in industry for filling moulds with
granular particles to a high degree of packing fraction. The entire
mould apparatus is vibrated with precise acceleration properties,
causing the particles to permeate and fill the void spaces as efficiently
as possible. The mould can then be back-filled with a suitable binder
(e.g. epoxy resins) to produce a high quality, homogeneous composite
material with desirable mechanical properties in a (close to) near net
shape.
The nature of the applied vibration and the design of the mould tool
itself cause interesting phenomena, such as node formation around
fixtures and out-of-axis motion, which are not simple to predict
without extensive testing and simulation. This project involves a joint
experimental and modelling study of these phenomena, with the intent
of optimising the vibro-packing process to increase manufacturing
throughput and tightly control the resulting material properties.
The project seeks to use advanced experimental techniques (such as
Positron Emission Particle Tracking, PEPT) to characterize the system
and provide important validation data. With PEPT, individual particles
can be tracked as they move through the mould, which combined with
machine learning and AI techniques, will allow us to develop an
understanding of how the particles' properties affect their packing
behaviour. Cutting edge modelling and simulation techniques (discrete
element method, DEM, coupled with computational fluid dynamics,
CFD) will be used to improve our understanding of how these
properties - and those of the mould fixture and resin binder - can be
used to produce better materials faster and more reliably.
granular particles to a high degree of packing fraction. The entire
mould apparatus is vibrated with precise acceleration properties,
causing the particles to permeate and fill the void spaces as efficiently
as possible. The mould can then be back-filled with a suitable binder
(e.g. epoxy resins) to produce a high quality, homogeneous composite
material with desirable mechanical properties in a (close to) near net
shape.
The nature of the applied vibration and the design of the mould tool
itself cause interesting phenomena, such as node formation around
fixtures and out-of-axis motion, which are not simple to predict
without extensive testing and simulation. This project involves a joint
experimental and modelling study of these phenomena, with the intent
of optimising the vibro-packing process to increase manufacturing
throughput and tightly control the resulting material properties.
The project seeks to use advanced experimental techniques (such as
Positron Emission Particle Tracking, PEPT) to characterize the system
and provide important validation data. With PEPT, individual particles
can be tracked as they move through the mould, which combined with
machine learning and AI techniques, will allow us to develop an
understanding of how the particles' properties affect their packing
behaviour. Cutting edge modelling and simulation techniques (discrete
element method, DEM, coupled with computational fluid dynamics,
CFD) will be used to improve our understanding of how these
properties - and those of the mould fixture and resin binder - can be
used to produce better materials faster and more reliably.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Christopher Windows-Yule (Primary Supervisor) | |
Aaron Wiggin (Student) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EP/S023070/1 | 01/10/2019 | 31/03/2028 | |||
2889985 | Studentship | EP/S023070/1 | 01/10/2023 | 30/09/2027 | Aaron Wiggin |