Comprehensive simulation of single PDC cutter penetration using distinct element modeling (DEM) methods

Mozaffari, Mohammad (2014) Comprehensive simulation of single PDC cutter penetration using distinct element modeling (DEM) methods. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (5MB)

Abstract

Distinct Element Method (DEM) models are a class of material models that represent the material as a domain of small elastic balls bonded by non-linear elastic springs with defined shear and tensile bond strengths. This kind of material can represent concrete which is a material composed of a Portland cement-based matrix and rock aggregate, and has similar material properties and failure behaviour as low-permeability, sedimentary rocks. This study investigates the performance of DEM in drilling operations by developing a toolkit. The toolkit has tried to introduce the most possible aspects of a drilling operation to qualitatively replicate the available experimental studies with optimized high accuracy. The toolkit has maturated through this study in multiple steps. Initially there was only a cutter dragging on a rock under a vertical force in presence of confining pressure. Further enhancements such as cutter cleaning were added; also, boundary effects were minimized and particle size has been optimized. In the last step an advanced contact model, i.e. Flat-Joint contact model, has been used to better study the behavior of granular media. The gradual process helped the toolkit grow. A number of experimental studies were re-created using this toolkit and the performance of the toolkit was tested in two scenarios against experimental and published work. The results confirm the performance and accuracy of the toolkit in replicating and predicting the experimental study qualitatively. Furthermore, the results were tested against available correlations and it has been found out that they follow the correlations closely.

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