Dynamics and Interaction of Material and Equipment

This course focuses on modelling and designing machine-cargo interactions and using those interactions to conceptually design equipment taking into account the transport demands and logistics processes.

The course starts with the logistic context with emphasis on (bulk and container) terminal level, for which the functionality of equipment types will be addressed with regard to the cargo type (dry bulk, container, piece goods) and its characteristics.

Specific equipment types will be discussed, analysed and designed, such as a belt conveying systems used for bulk materials (e.g. iron ore and coal) as well as for baggage and parcel handling. The interaction between cargo and equipment will be explicitly taken into account.

Specifically for the bulk solid cargo type, an experimental assignment to determine the properties of a particular bulk solid material is part of the course. Bulk solid materials include granular materials such as coal, sand, limestone, iron ore, grain. These materials can be free flowing through bunkers and chutes as well as stored in silos, handled by stackers and reclaimers or transported by conveyors. With the experimentally determined properties conceptual design of a silo and belt conveyor will be undertaken.

State-of-the-art particle based simulation with Discrete Element Method (DEM) will be introduced. The parameters, algorithms, and applications will be addressed, as well as the procedure for validation of DEM simulations to obtain realistic bulk material behaviour in a virtual environment. It will be shown how DEM has led to new breakthroughs and developments in the field of port handling equipment.