Cold compaction of composite powders with size ratio Original Research Article

Cold compaction of composite powders with size ratio has been analysed in this study using a discrete element method. Powder aggregates consisting of up to 10,000 particles and formed by two powder populations with known material strength and size ratios have been compacted both isostatically and uniaxially. The particles were assumed constitutively to be either perfectly plastic or rigid, and as a result, local contacts between the particles were described by a linear force–displacement relation. The results of this study include the presentation of relevant compaction quantities as a function of densification, and a detailed comparison with previous theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies. Particular emphasis has been placed on investigating the predictive capability of the fundamental assumptions frequently used in theoretical analyses of compaction problems.