DEM simulation of centrifugal disc finishing using smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Centrifugal disc finishing is a widely used technology forserial post-processing of small components made of various materials. During the process, the workpieces are completely surrounded by dry or moist abrasive media, making it difficult to obtain precise information about particle contacts or the movement of the workpieces. Numerical analysis through the discrete element method (DEM) has the potential to improve the understanding of the process, but the accurate representation of moist particles with varying contact conditions remains a challenge. This paper compares different contact models using the ROCKY DEM software, including the liquid-bridge model and the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) model. The analysis indicates that, compared to other models, SPH demonstrates clear advantages in representing process water flow and is better suited for cases with higher water content in the medium.