Discrete Element Method Analysis of an Inclined Mining Screen: Probability Theory approach

This study numerically investigated the particle movement and screening behavior on a vibrating sieve using the discrete element method (DEM). The accuracy of the DEM model was validated by comparing computational fluid dynamics simulation and mathematical model results of the percentage passing distribution for various particle sizes along the screen. The effects of amplitude on the screening efficiency and passing rate distribution for different particle sizes were analyzed. Sieving effectiveness is linked to the particle behavior on the screen, including the aperture structure, particle velocities, vibrating screen, and interactions with the screen deck. This study shows that industry-scale screening performance correlates with particle-deck collisions observed in DEM simulations, supported by probability theory. A mathematical model was developed based on probability theory and dimensional analysis to correlate improvements in particle stratification and movement across the screen, effectively estimating process performance in terms of weight percentage passing.