Discrete element simulation for evolution characteristics of multi-funnel mineral-rock force chain under flexible isolation layer

To further reveal the internal mechanism of the granular media flow process under the flexible isolation layer, numerical experiments on the evolution characteristics of bulk media flow force chain under the flexible isolation layer were carried out based on the discrete element software PFC. Based on a combination of contact mechanics and statistical mechanics, the evolution characteristics of the force chain length, quantity, strength, direction, and the collimation coefficient of the internal bulk medium system in the multifunnel ore drawing process were quantitatively studied. It is found that the proportions of the strong contact and the force chain contact is found to be relatively stable in the multi-funnel ore drawing process;the proportion of strong contact is stable at about 33%, that of the force chain contact is stable at about 16%, and the fluctuation amplitude is not more than 2%. The total number of force chains decreases with the increase in ore drawing times, and it is stable at 790 strips in the later stage of ore drawing. The probability distribution of the force chain length is almost the same under different ore drawing times, and it decreases exponentially with the increase in the force chain length. The probability distribution of the force chain strength first increases exponentially with the increase in the ore drawing times and then decreases exponentially;it reaches a peak value at 0.7■(■is the average contact force).In the initial ore drawing stage,the force chain is mainly distributed along the vertical direction, and the force chain direction distribution is similar to a peanut shape.After that, with the continuous release of ore particles, the phenomenon of local stress concentration in the granular media system becomes remarkable, and the main direction of the force chain distribution changes to become four(vertical direction, horizontal direction, and angles of ±60° to the horizontal). The force chain collimation coefficient increases exponentially with the increase in drawing times and gradually becomes stable.