Investigation of Various Parameters Effect on Cerchar Abrasivity Index with PFC3D Modeling

The Cerchar test is one of the appropriate and routine tests for determining the rock abrasion; but as for the costs and pin wear measurement errors in laboratory procedures and lack of access to laboratory equipment, using of numerical modeling can lead to use of greater number of samples required during the course of mechanized excavation and reduce the costs and errors in the laboratory test. In this study, the Cerchar abrasivity test was modeled using PFC3D (Particle Flow Code in 3 Dimensions) software. In order to verify the simulation results, Cerchar laboratory test results obtained by Rostami (Rock Mech Rock Eng 47(5):1905–1919, 2014) were compared with the numerical modeling results. In modeling studies, the effects of some parameters such as apply load, test speed, pin hardness and scratching distance on pin wear were investigated. As a conclusion of the study, good agreement between modeling and experimental results was obtained for a given condition. As in the experiment with various loads in both laboratory tests and modeling, with increasing applied load the Cerchar abrasivity index also increased in the experiment with Rockwell hardness HRC (An abbreviation for Rockwell Hardness measured on the C scale. The Rockwell test determines the hardness by measuring the depth of penetration of an indenter under a large load compared to the penetration made by a preload, that on the C scale use from a indenter with 120° cone and 150 kgf load) 42.