3D Micromechanical modeling of packed beds

A new 3D numerical model has been developed to simulate the thermal and mechanical characteristics of packed beds used in fusion reactor blankets and other applications. This method is based on an explicit numerical scheme which monitors the interaction of the particles contact by contact and their motion particle by particle. In this paper, a mathematical formulation as well as a model which predicts the packed bed thermomechanical states under imposed and induced loads are presented. The model is validated by comparing the numerical simulations with thermal expansion and uniaxial compression experiments of packed beds. The results of the calculated bed effective modulus compares reasonably well with the experimental data.