CUTTING FORCE ANALYSIS OF CUTTER SUCTION DREDGER CUTTERHEAD USING DISCRETE ELEMENT METHOD (DEM)

• Main Author: L. Setiawan S. Pandia, Arico
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/74376
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Tin is a mining commodity that plays a significant role in the industrial sector. As one of the contributors to the national economy, it is important to understand tin dredging activities using Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) as an attempt to improve the effectiveness of dredging. In order to understand the dredging process and the parameters that affect the dredging force in the tin dredging process, numerical modeling of the dredging activity is carried out using Discrete Element Method (DEM). The research step begins by examining the cutterhead model data and dredging conditions of the CSD operation. Furthermore, numerical modeling of the dredging process was carried out which was validated using the results of the dredging forces and shear angle from the Hatamura and Chijiiwa experiment. The validated numerical model is then used as a reference in modeling three loading cases in the CSD tin dredging process, where the results are cutterhead dredging forces in swing, vertical and axial directions which will be compared to Miedema’s analytical solution. Based on the analysis results, the DEM numerical model design is considered quite valid in modeling the dredging process. As for the cutterhead dredging forces, results are obtained with an error of ?10,2% in the swing and vertical directions, as well as an error with a range of 65,1% to 89,4% in the axial direction. For the results of parametric analysis, it was concluded that the magnitude of the dredging force was only influenced by the hardness of the soil as indicated by an increase in dredging force of 24,9% in PKAKS soil dredging compared to PHAKS. Meanwhile, in order to increase the accuracy of the research, further research can be carried out using DEM and FVM (Finite Volume Method).