Cyclic thermo-mechanical performance of granular beds: Effect of elastoplasticity

Understanding the coupled thermo-mechanical behaviour of compacted granular beds can benefit various industrial applications, such as pebble bed design in fusion reactors. In this study, a discrete element method based on our previous work is improved and adapted to investigate cyclic performance gas-filled materials composed elastoplastic grains. An interparticle contact model developed considering plastic deformation Through simulation representative volume beryllium beds, we provide grain-scale insight into evolution thermal conductivity stress. The results suggest that network contacts impeded by leading significant drop during cooling. This effect be suppressed increasing initial packing factor. Not limited design, conclusion also pave way for optimizing powder-based manufacturing energy storage, where combined loading conditions individual particles are involved.