Engineering Applications of Discrete

Element Method: Operation Analysis

and Optimization Design of Coal and
Agricultural Machinery Xuewen Wang
Visit to download the full and correct content document:
https://textbookfull.com/product/engineering-applications-of-discrete-element-method-
operation-analysis-and-optimization-design-of-coal-and-agricultural-machinery-xuewe
n-wang/
More products digital (pdf, epub, mobi) instant
download maybe you interests ...

The finite element method: fundamentals and

applications in civil, hydraulic, mechanical and
aeronautical engineering Zhu B.

https://textbookfull.com/product/the-finite-element-method-
fundamentals-and-applications-in-civil-hydraulic-mechanical-and-
aeronautical-engineering-zhu-b/

Engineering optimization: applications, methods and

analysis First Edition Rhinehart

https://textbookfull.com/product/engineering-optimization-
applications-methods-and-analysis-first-edition-rhinehart/

Advances in Agricultural Machinery and Technologies

First Edition Guangnan Chen

https://textbookfull.com/product/advances-in-agricultural-
machinery-and-technologies-first-edition-guangnan-chen/

Design and Development of Metal-Forming Processes and

Products Aided by Finite Element Simulation 1st Edition
Ming Wang Fu

https://textbookfull.com/product/design-and-development-of-metal-
forming-processes-and-products-aided-by-finite-element-
simulation-1st-edition-ming-wang-fu/
Towards Sustainable Chemical Processes: Applications of
Sustainability Assessment and Analysis, Design and
Optimization, and Hybridization and Modularization 1st
Edition Jingzheng Ren
https://textbookfull.com/product/towards-sustainable-chemical-
processes-applications-of-sustainability-assessment-and-analysis-
design-and-optimization-and-hybridization-and-modularization-1st-
edition-jingzheng-ren/

Design And Optimization Of Thermal Systems, With

MATLAB® Applications Yogesh Jaluria

https://textbookfull.com/product/design-and-optimization-of-
thermal-systems-with-matlab-applications-yogesh-jaluria/

Underground engineering planning design construction

and operation of the underground space 1st Edition Bai
Yun

https://textbookfull.com/product/underground-engineering-
planning-design-construction-and-operation-of-the-underground-
space-1st-edition-bai-yun/

The Boundary Element Method for Engineers and

Scientists Theory and Applications 2nd Edition John T.
Katsikadelis

https://textbookfull.com/product/the-boundary-element-method-for-
engineers-and-scientists-theory-and-applications-2nd-edition-
john-t-katsikadelis/

The finite element method : basic concepts and

applications with MATLAB, MAPLE, and COMSOL Third
Edition Heinrich

https://textbookfull.com/product/the-finite-element-method-basic-
concepts-and-applications-with-matlab-maple-and-comsol-third-
edition-heinrich/
Engineering Applications of Computational Methods 4

Xuewen Wang
Bo Li
Rui Xia
Haozhou Ma

Engineering
Applications
of Discrete
Element Method
Operation Analysis and Optimization
Design of Coal and Agricultural
Machinery
Engineering Applications of Computational
Methods

Volume 4

Series Editors
Liang Gao, State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment
and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,
Wuhan, Hubei, China
Akhil Garg, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University
of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
The book series Engineering Applications of Computational Methods addresses the
numerous applications of mathematical theory and latest computational or
numerical methods in various fields of engineering. It emphasizes the practical
application of these methods, with possible aspects in programming. New and
developing computational methods using big data, machine learning and AI are
discussed in this book series, and could be applied to engineering fields, such as
manufacturing, industrial engineering, control engineering, civil engineering,
energy engineering and material engineering.
The book series Engineering Applications of Computational Methods aims to
introduce important computational methods adopted in different engineering
projects to researchers and engineers. The individual book volumes in the series
are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give readers a comprehensive overview
of how the computational methods in a certain engineering area can be used. As a
collection, the series provides valuable resources to a wide audience in academia,
the engineering research community, industry and anyone else who are looking to
expand their knowledge of computational methods.

More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/16380

Xuewen Wang Bo Li Rui Xia Haozhou Ma
• • •

Engineering Applications
of Discrete Element Method
Operation Analysis and Optimization Design
of Coal and Agricultural Machinery

123
Xuewen Wang Bo Li
College of Mechanical and Vehicle College of Mechanical and Vehicle
Engineering Engineering
Taiyuan University of Technology Taiyuan University of Technology
Taiyuan, Shanxi, China Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

Rui Xia Haozhou Ma

College of Mechanical and Vehicle College of Mechanical and Vehicle
Engineering Engineering
Taiyuan University of Technology Taiyuan University of Technology
Taiyuan, Shanxi, China Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

ISSN 2662-3366 ISSN 2662-3374 (electronic)

Engineering Applications of Computational Methods
ISBN 978-981-15-7976-9 ISBN 978-981-15-7977-6 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7977-6

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether
the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of
illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and
transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar
or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this
publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from
the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this
book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the
authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained
herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard
to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721,
Singapore
Preface

Bulk materials refer to a large number of unpacked bulk, granular and powdery
materials which are piled together and whose geometric size basically belongs to
the aggregate of particles of the same magnitude, such as rock, sand, coal, grain,
cement and so on widely existing in nature. The physical properties of bulk
materials are very complex and contain some properties of both solids and fluids.
Firstly, the bulk material itself can maintain its solid shape; to a certain extent, it can
bear shear and pressure; and generally cannot withstand tensile forces. Secondly,
when the external force is applied or the internal force changes, it will guide the
flow of bulk materials, but the difference between it and pure fluid is that it cannot
transfer the same pressure in all directions. In addition, the characteristics of stress
distribution such as arching phenomenon, grain silo effect, Brazil nut effect and
self-organized collapse phenomenon make the bulk materials also have special
features different from solids and fluids. Current numerical methods for continuous
media, such as finite element and boundary element methods, cannot well simulate
the bulk system because they all require the continuity of the problem to be studied
and the stress balance and displacement coordination conditions must be satisfied.
As a numerical method for discontinuous media, discrete element method
(DEM) does not require continuity of the problem studied. Simple contact consti-
tutive relationship and Newton’s law of motion are used for simulation calculation,
which can be used to solve and analyze the motion and mechanical properties of
complex discrete systems. With the continuous development of DEM in recent
years, it has been widely used in the fields of industry and agriculture. It can better
simulate mechanical and kinetic problems such as coal mining, coal transportation,
soil excavation, crop transportation, and can also be used to simulate and analyze
the force problems of geotechnical engineering, crop and related machinery.
This book introduces the engineering application of DEM, especially the sim-
ulation analysis of the typical equipment (scraper conveyor, coal silos and sub-
soiler) in the coal and agricultural machinery. In this book, DEM was applied to
build rigid-discrete coupling model, and the kinematic effect of the bulk materials,
the mechanical effect of the interaction between the bulk materials and the
mechanical equipment in the operation process of the relevant equipment were

v
vi Preface

studied. On this basis, the optimization design strategy of the relevant structure was
proposed. This book can effectively promote the application of DEM in engi-
neering, analyze the operation state, failure mechanism and operation effect of
related equipment in operation, and provide the theoretical bases of the optimal
design of equipment. The book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students
who are interested in mechanical engineering, researchers investigating coal and
agricultural machinery, and engineers working on designing-related equipment.
The book consists of 10 chapters, of which Chaps. 1, 6, 7 and 10 were written by
Xuewen Wang, Chaps. 8 and 9 by Bo Li, Chaps. 4 and 5 by Rui Xia, and Chaps. 2
and 3 by Haozhou Ma. The research results and publication of this book are
supported by projects such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China:
‘The coupling effect between coal and rock bulk and transport equipment under
complex transport conditions’ (51875386), and the National Natural Science
Foundation of China: ‘Design of wear-resistant bionic middle groove of scraper
conveyor under variable factors based on discrete element method’ (51804207).
Due to the author’s limited knowledge level, there are some defects in the book,
so we sincerely ask the readers to criticize and correct them.

Taiyuan, China Xuewen Wang

June 2020 Bo Li
Rui Xia
Haozhou Ma
Contents

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Brief Introduction of DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 The Development History of DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 Basic Theory of DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3.1 Contact Theory of DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3.2 Particle Contact Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.3.3 Calculation of Particle Motion State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.3.4 Determination of Time Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.4 Development Trend of DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.4.1 Development of Theoretical Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.4.2 Improvement of Operation Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.4.3 Multi-field Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
1.4.4 Software Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.4.5 Multi-algorithm Coupling Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.5 Parameter Calibration of DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.5.1 Direct Measurement of the Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.5.2 Test-Simulation Combined Calibration Method . . . . . . . 16
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2 Application of DEM in Coal and Agricultural Machinery . . . . . . . 21
2.1 Application of DEM in Coal Machine Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.1.1 Transportation Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2.1.2 Mining Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2.1.3 Other Coal Machine Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2.2 Application of DEM in Agricultural Machinery
Equipment Ripper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 25
2.2.1 Loose Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 25
2.2.2 Seeding Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 27

vii
viii Contents

2.2.3 Harvesting Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

2.2.4 Other Agricultural Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3 Analysis of the Coal Bulk Transport State Based on DEM . . . . . . . 35
3.1 EDEM Simulation Model Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.1.1 Scraper Conveyor Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.1.2 Coal Bulk Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3.2 EDEM Simulation Analysis of Transportation State
Under Complex Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
3.2.1 Stable and Start-Stop Working Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . 37
3.2.2 Material Accumulation Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
3.2.3 Gangue-Containing Working Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
3.2.4 Bottom Plate Tilting Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
3.2.5 Viscosity Change Condition of Coal Bulk . . . . . . . . . . . 46
3.3 Distribution and Movement State of Coal Bulk . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
3.3.1 Distribution State of Coal Bulk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
3.3.2 Movement State of Coal Bulk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
4 Mechanical Effect of Scraper Conveyor Based on DEM . . . . . .... 57
4.1 EDEM Simulation Analysis of Bulk Load Characteristics . .... 57
4.1.1 Reconstruction of Scraper Conveyor Model . . . . . . .... 57
4.1.2 Load Characteristics of Coal Bulk Under Normal
Working Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 58
4.1.3 Load Characteristics of Coal Bulk Under Complex
Working Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 60
4.2 EDEM Simulation Analysis of the Force Features
of the Middle Trough of the Scraper Conveyor . . . . . . . . .... 64
4.2.1 Up and Down Hill Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 64
4.2.2 The Middle Trough Tilts the Condition
in the Direction of the Push . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 68
4.2.3 Different Capacity Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 69
4.2.4 Ledge Local Accumulation Conditions . . . . . . . . . .... 70
4.3 EDEM Simulation Analysis of Contact Mechanics
and Wear Between the Coal Bulk and the Middle Trough . .... 72
4.3.1 Theoretical Analysis of Contact Mechanics . . . . . . .... 72
4.3.2 Analysis of the Wear Mechanism of the Middle
Trough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 78
4.3.3 Analysis of the Wear Law of the Middle Trough . . .... 79
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... 82
Contents ix

5 Application of DEM on the Design of Wear-Resistant Bionic

Chute of Scraper Conveyor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83
5.1 Geometric Structure Characteristics of Wear-Resistant
Organism Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83
5.1.1 Selection of Biological Geometric Structure
Surface and Bionic Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 83
5.1.2 Pit-Shaped Biological Non-smooth Geometric
Structure Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84
5.2 Optimization of Wear-Resistant Structure of Pit-Type
Non-smooth Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
5.2.1 Test Conditions and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
5.2.2 Bionic Middle Plate Design and Preparation . . . . . . . . . 88
5.2.3 Optimize Test Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
5.2.4 Experimental Results and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
5.2.5 Verification and Comparative Test of Bionic
Middle Plate with Optimal Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 95
5.3 EDEM Simulation Analysis of the Wear-Resistant Mechanism
of Bionic Middle Plate with Optimal Structure . . . . . . . . . . . .. 97
5.3.1 Research on Wear Mechanism Based on Wear
Morphology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 97
5.3.2 Research on Wear Resistance Mechanism
of EDEM-RecurDyn Coupled Simulation . . . . . . . . . . . 100
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
6 Flowing State Analysis of Coal Bulk in Silos Using DEM . . . . . . . . 103
6.1 Construction of DEM Model for Silo-Coal Particle
Interaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
6.1.1 Coal Particle Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
6.1.2 Silo Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
6.1.3 Contact and Flow Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
6.2 Simulation Analysis of Bulk Material Flow State in Silo
by DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
6.2.1 Flow State Simulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
6.2.2 Factors Affecting Flow Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
6.3 Simulation of DEM for Bulk Material Flow in Coal Silo
Unloading Hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
6.3.1 Hopper Discharge Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
6.3.2 Simulation Analysis of Loading and Unloading . . . . . . . 118
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
7 Stress Analysis of Silos Using DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
7.1 Silo Boundary Conditions and Loading and Unloading
Material Simulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
7.2 Simulation Analysis of Static Dynamic Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
x Contents

7.2.1 The Classic Theory of Coal Barn Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 126

7.2.2 Static and Dynamic Pressure Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
7.3 Overpressure Discrete Element Simulation Analysis . . . . . . . . . 131
7.4 Test Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
7.4.1 Test Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
7.4.2 Test Schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
7.4.3 Analysis of Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
8 Application of DEM on the Design and Performance Analysis
of Bionic Subsoiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
8.1 PFC3D Simulation Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
8.1.1 Black Bear Claw Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
8.1.2 Soil Particle Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
8.2 Soil Parameter Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
8.2.1 Calibration Scheme Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
8.2.2 Influencing Factors and Measuring Methods . . . . . . . . . 143
8.2.3 Soil Particle Correction Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
8.3 Analysis of Claw–Soil Interaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
8.3.1 Claw–Soil Interaction Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
8.3.2 Claw–Soil Interaction Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
8.4 Design of Bionic Subsoiler and Study on Subsoiling Effect . . . . 153
8.4.1 Design of Bionic Subsoiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
8.4.2 PFC3D Simulation Analysis of Subsoiling Effect . . . . . . 154
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
9 The Effect of Two Wings of Subsoiler on Tillage Based
on DEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
9.1 The Subsoiling Tool and the Soil Parameters in PFC3D . . . . . . . 160
9.1.1 Description of the Subsoiling Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
9.1.2 Soil Particles and Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
9.1.3 Validation of the Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
9.2 Virtual Test of the Two Design Alternatives Using PFC3D . . . . 162
9.2.1 Comparison of the Two Design Alternatives . . . . . . . . . 165
9.2.2 Kinetic Energy of Soil Particles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
10 Conclusion and Prospect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
10.1 Work Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
10.2 Main Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
10.3 Prospect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Chapter 1
Introduction

1.1 Brief Introduction of DEM

The discrete element method (DEM) was first proposed by Professor Cundall based
on molecular dynamics in 1971, and was first applied to the analysis of related
problems in rock mechanics. The basic principle is to divide the research object into
a finite number of particle units, and each unit has a relatively independent motion.
Then according to Newton’s second law and the interaction between particle units, the
dynamic relaxation method or static relaxation method is adopted to carry out cyclic
iterative calculations to obtain the force and displacement of all units in each time
step, and then update the positions of all units. Then by tracking the microscopic
motion of each unit, the macroscopic motion law of the whole research object is
obtained.
DEM simulates the motion of each particle in the particle system. In the beginning,
DEM regarded particle units as two-dimensional rigid polygonal blocks, and then
developed into two-dimensional disks and three-dimensional spheres. Because the
size and shape of the disk or sphere are easy to define, and the contact state of particles
is easy to detect, the simulation time is short. However, in the actual production, the
actual shape of most particles is very different, and the disk and sphere cannot truly
reflect the shape of particles, so there are some non-circular particle models such as
spheroid, ellipsoid, polyhedron and so on. The non-circular particle models can truly
reflect the real shape of the particles, but the complex geometries of these shapes
also bring difficulties to the contact judgment of the discrete element solution, and
also affect the calculation time. At present, more particle models are still represented
by disks, spheres or clusters. The interaction between units is regarded as a transient
equilibrium problem by DEM. When the internal force reaches equilibrium, it can
be considered to be in equilibrium. And the force on the unit only depends on itself
and other units in direct contact with the unit.

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license 1
to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
X. Wang et al., Engineering Applications of Discrete Element Method,
Engineering Applications of Computational Methods 4,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7977-6_1
2 1 Introduction

The solution process is to first discrete the solution area into discrete unit arrays,
then select the contact model which is consistent with the actual situation. According
to the relationship between the force and the relative displacement of the adjacent
unit, the normal force and the tangential force of the particle unit are obtained, and
then the resultant force and the resultant moment of all the external forces on the
units are calculated. The acceleration is obtained by Newton’s law of motion. And
then the acceleration obtained is integrated with the time to obtain the velocity and
displacement of the unit. In this way, the physical quantities of displacement, velocity,
acceleration and angular velocity of all units at any time can be obtained by a large
number of iterative calculations.

1.2 The Development History of DEM

Since DEM was proposed, it has attracted many scholars to study it, so that its models
and algorithms have been continuously improved, and its application field has been
further expanded.
In 1971, Cundall first proposed DEM to solve the mechanical behavior of discon-
tinuities such as rocks. The two-dimensional angle-edge (surface) contact model
proposed by Cundall can effectively describe the discontinuities of rocks and their
particle dispersion. It allows the units to change the original contact relationship and
can study the contact conditions with deformation and displacement [1, 2]. In 1974,
Cundall studied the input and output of interactive computer in discrete element
program and then studied the interactive conversation function of screen graphics
output. The two-dimensional discrete element program tended to mature [3–5]. But
initially due to the limitations of computer hardware, many programs were written
in assembly language. In 1978, the program of DEM had been translated into the
text of FORTRAN IV and became the basic program of DEM [6]. In the same year,
Cundall and Strack developed the BALL program of two-dimensional disk, and then
developed the TRUBAL program of three-dimensional sphere to study the mechan-
ical behavior of particle media [7, 8]. The achievements of Cundall and Strack were
published in ‘Geotechnique’ in 1979, which aroused widespread concern and high
attention in the academic community, and officially used the academic term ‘Discrete
Element Method’. It proved that DEM is a useful way to study the constitutive
relationship of particles [9].
In 1977, Kawai et al. proposed a new discrete model in the solid mechanical
model. The rigid units in this model are connected by spring units, which can be
used to analyze the elastic–plastic stress field near the crack under two-dimensional
and three-dimensional arbitrary boundary conditions [10]. In 1980, Cundall devel-
oped the Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC) program based on the original
rigid body model, and studied the stress deformation of the block and the block
units allowed to break according to the fracture criterion, which made the DEM
of rigid block develop into the DEM of variable block [11]. In 1983, Dowding
et al. proposed an edge–edge (face–face) contact model based on the angle-edge
1.2 The Development History of DEM 3

(face) contact model. This model allows units to be separated without the need for
element contact relationships to be maintained, and it does not need to retrieve the
contact relationship of the unit, which not only greatly improves the calculation
efficiency but also avoids the ‘locked state’ of the angular-edge contact model. At
the same time, a two-dimensional discrete element program NURBM-2D (North-
western University Rigid Block Model 2 Dimension) was developed based on the
rigid block theory, which is used to analyze the stability of underground rock mass
projects such as caves and tunnels, and the movement under seismic load [12–14].
In 1985, Shi established a new model for analyzing the static and dynamic char-
acteristics of the block system, and evolved the solution of DEM to discontinuous
deformation analysis [15, 16]. In 1987, Cundall analyzed the relationship between
the discontinuous medium properties and physical properties of rock, and developed
a three-dimensional discrete element program 3DEC for rigid and variable units
with ITASCA company. Compared with UDEC, its data structure has been greatly
improved. In 1988, Gilbert proposed the three-dimensional discrete element basic
equations and algorithms for the face–face contact model [14–17], and developed
the FORTRAN text three-dimensional program NURBM-3D. In 1989, Thornton
developed the TRUBAL program from the particle contact model to form TRUBAL-
Aston (later named GRANULE), which conforms to the principle of elastic-plastic
ball contact mechanics and can simulate dry–wet, elastic–plastic and particle two-
phase flow problems. Thornton et al. [18–22] fully adopted the previous theory of
normal/tangential action in sphere contact mechanics, including the case of surface
adhesion and local plastic deformation in contact area. For non-adhesive spherical
particles, the Hertz theory is used to solve the normal contact force and the Mindlin-
Deresiewicz method to solve the tangential contact force. For adhering spherical
particles, the normal contact force is based on the JKR theory that considers the
adhesion force based on Hertz theory, and the increment of tangential contact force
is determined by Thornton method which is formed by the combination of Savkoor
and Briggs method [23] and Mindlin-Deresiewicz method.
Tsuji proposed the nonlinear Hertz contact model based on the Cundall model,
obtained the damping form of the contact model, and obtained the expression of the
contact force and contact displacement that more reflects the contact law [24, 25].
Oda et al. proposed a simplified form of contact moment, considering the asymmetry
of normal contact stress when particles contact based on the relevant experimental
study of bulk mechanics [26–28]. This model significantly reduces the error of the
calculated results due to the rolling property of the ideal circular particles, and further
studies the shear effect and torque transfer of the particles [29, 30]. Lu et al. proposed a
contact relationship detection algorithm for the problem of ‘locked state’ of angular–
angular contact [31, 32].
4 1 Introduction

1.3 Basic Theory of DEM

1.3.1 Contact Theory of DEM

1.3.1.1 Particle Model Hypothesis

In order to facilitate the analysis and research, the following assumptions are made
for the particle model when the DEM is used for calculation and solution:
(1) The particle unit is a rigid body, and the deformation of the entire system is the
sum of all particles deformed at the contact point.
(2) The contact between particles is point contact.
(3) The particle contact characteristic is soft contact, that is, the particles are allowed
to produce a certain amount of overlap at the contact point, the resulting overlap
is small relative to the particle size, and the particle deformation is also small
relative to the particle translation and rotation.
(4) In each time step, the disturbance can only be transmitted to the particles them-
selves, but not to other particles. At all times, the resultant force on each particle
can only be determined by the interaction of other particles in contact with that
particle.

1.3.1.2 Particle Simplified Model

At present, DEM often uses two particle simplified models, soft sphere model and
hard sphere model. These two models have different advantages in computing effi-
ciency and application. The soft sphere model is mainly used to simulate the collision
process between multiple particles over a period of time. According to the overlap
between the particles, the contact force between the particles can be calculated by
Newton’s second law. The calculation intensity is relatively small, which is suitable
for numerical calculation of engineering problems. The hard sphere model is mainly
used to simulate the case of fast particle velocity, such as coulter flow and shear flow,
in which the particles collide instantaneously without obvious plastic deformation.
This model only considers the collision of two particles at the same time, and cannot
be used to calculate the collision among three or more particles.
(1) Soft sphere model
As shown in Fig. 1.1, the soft sphere model simplifies the process of contact and
collision between the particles into the damped vibration of spring vibrator, and its
motion equation is:

m ẍ + c ẋ + kx = 0 (1.1)

where x is the displacement of the vibrator from its equilibrium position; m is its
mass; c and k are the spring damping coefficient and elastic coefficient, respectively.
1.3 Basic Theory of DEM 5

Fig. 1.1 Spring damper

system

Fig. 1.2 A soft sphere

model of two particles

According to formula (1.1), the particles are subjected to the restoring force in
the direction opposite to the displacement, and the viscous resistance in the opposite
direction, which is proportional to the speed, so the energy of this system is gradually
declining.
As shown in Fig. 1.2, particle i and particle j contact at point C due to inertia or
external force, and the position at the beginning of contact is indicated by the dotted
line. The particle surface will be deformed due to the relative motion of the two
particles and generate contact force. The soft sphere model obtains the contact force
between the particles by calculating the normal overlap amount α and the tangent
displacement δ, without considering the deformation.
The soft sphere model simplifies the contact between particle i and particle j. The
simplified model is shown in Fig. 1.3. Springs, couplers, dampers and sliders are set
between the two particles, and relevant parameters are introduced. The coupler is only
used to determine the pairing relationship between the two particles in contact without
introducing any force. In the tangential direction, if the tangential force exceeds a
certain value, the sliding resistance device will realize two particles sliding under the
action of friction and normal force.
1.5 Parameter Calibration of DEM 17

For single-parameter calibration, the macroscopic physical index is determined

by single particle test or particle system test; then, the same simulation model as the
test is established in the discrete element software, and the corresponding simulation
test is carried out to change the value of the parameters to be calibrated to get
the macroscopic index under different parameter simulation; then, according to the
rule of macroscopic index and parameters to be calibrated, the test is carried out
to determine [69–72]. When more than one parameter needs to be calibrated, the
calibration process will become complex.
When there are many calibration parameters, to establish the relationship between
the test indexes and the parameters to be calibrated quickly and efficiently, scholars
proposed many methods to optimize this process, such as test design method [73–75],
neural network method based on Latin hypercube sampling [76, 77], artificial neural
network method and so on [78]. From the mathematical point of view, the multi-
parameter joint calibration is a reverse calibration method [79, 80]. The calibration
process can be summarized into three steps: first, determine the evaluation index
of the test and the value range of the parameters to be calibrated; second, build the
objective function which can reflect the difference between the simulation results
and the test results of the simulation model under the combination of the parameters
through the discrete element simulation; third, from the actual situation, the optimal
combination of parameters [81] satisfying the objective function was found and all
parameters to be calibrated were determined.

References

1. Cundall PA (1971) A computer model for simulating progressive largescale movements in

blocky system. Muller Led Proc Symp Int Soc Rock Mechanics. Rotterdam, Netherlands:
Balkama A A. 1:8–12
2. Cundall, P.A. (1971). The measurement and analysis of acceleration in rock slopes. Dissertation.
University of London
3. Cundall PA (1974) Rational design of tunnel supports: A computer model for rock mass
behavior using interactive graphics for the input and output of geometrical data. Tech Report
MRD-2–74, Missouri River Division, US Army Corps of Engineers
4. Cundall PA (1977) Computer Interactive Graphics and the Distinct Element Method. Rock
Engineering for Foundations and Slopes, ASCE. 2:193–199
5. Cundall PA, Voegele MD, Fairhurst C (1977) Computerized Design of Rock Slopes Using
Interactive Graphics for the Input and Output of Geometrical Data. Design Methods in Rock
Mechanics, ASCE., 1–10
6. Cundall PA, Marti J, Beresford PJ, Last N, Asgian M (1978) Computer modeling of jointed rock
masses. Tech Report N-78–4, US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg,
Mississippi
7. Strack ODL, Cundall PA (1978) The distinct element method as a tool for research in granular
media, Part I. University of Minnesota, Report to the National Science Foundation, Minnesota
8. Cundall PA, Strack ODL (1979) The distinct element method as a tool for research in granular
media, Part II. University of Minnesota, Report to the National Science Foundation, Minnesota
9. Cundall PA, Strack ODL (1979) A discrete numerical model for granular assembles.
Geotechnique 29(1):47–65
10. Kawai T (1977) New Element Models in Discrete Structural Analysis. J. Soc. Naval Arch. Jpn.
141:187–193
18 1 Introduction

11. Cundall, P.A. (1978). UDEC—A generalized distinct element program for modeling jointed
rock. Report PCAR-1-80, Peter Cundall Associates, European Research Office, US Army
12. Dowding CH, Belytschko TB, Yen HJ (1983) Dynamic computational analysis of opening in
joint rock. J Geotech Engng. 109(12):1551–1566
13. Belytschko T, Plesha M, Dowding CH (1984) A computer method for the stability analysis of
caverns in jointed rock. Int. J. Num. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 22(1):473–492
14. Dowding, C.H., &Gilbert, C. (1988). Dynamic stability of rock slopes and high frequency
traveling waves. J Geotech Engng., 114(10), 1069-1 088
15. Shi, G. (1988). Discontinuous Deformation Analysis: a New Numerical Model for the Statics
and Dynamics of Block Systems. Dissertation. University of California
16. Shi G (1992) Discontinuous deformation analysis: a new numerical model for the statics and
dynamics of deformable block structures. Eng Comput 9(2):157–168
17. Gilbert, C.M. (1988). Development of a three-dimensional small displacement rigid block
model for dynamic analysis. Dissertation. Northwestern University
18. Thornton C (1991) Interparticle Sliding in the Presence of Adhesion. J Phys D Appl Phys
24:1942–1946
19. Thornton C, Yin KK (1991) Impact of Elastic Spheres with and without Adhesion. Powder
Technol 65:153–166
20. Thornton C (1993) On the Relationship between the Modulus of Particulate Media and Surface
Energy of the Constituent Particles. J Phys D Appl Phys 26:1587–1591
21. Thornton C, Ning ZA (1998) Theoretical Model for the Stick/ Bounce Behaviour of Adhesive.
Elastic plastic Spheres. Powder Technol. 99:154–162
22. Thornton C (1991) Coefficient of Restitution for Collinear Collisions of Elastic perfectly plastic
spheres. J Appl Mech 64:383–386
23. Savkoor AR, Briggs GAD (1977) The Effect of Tangental Force on the Contact of Elastic
Solids in Adhesion. Proc R Soc Lond A 356:103–114
24. Tsuji Y, Tanaka T, Ishida T (1992) Lagrangian Numerical Simulation of Plug Flow of
Cohesionless Particles in a Horizontal Pipe. Powder Technol 71(3):239–250
25. Tsuji Y, Kawaguchi T, Tanaka T (1993) Discrete Particle Simulation of Two-Dimensional
Fluidized Bed. Powder Technol 77(1):79–87
26. Oda M, Konishi J, Nemat-Nasser S (1982) Experimental Micromechanical Evaluation of the
Strength of Granular Materials: Effects of Particle Rolling. Mech Mater 1:269–283
27. Oda, M., &Iwashita, K. (1999). Mechanics of Granular Materials, An introduction. Balkema
A A, Rotterdam, 147–223
28. Oda, M., Iwashita, K., &Kakiuchi, T. (1997) Importance of Particle Rotation in the Mechanics
of Franular Materials. Behringer R P, JenkinsJ T, eds. Powder & Grain 97., 207–214
29. Oda M, Kazama H (1998) Microstructure of Shear Bands and its Relation to the Mechanisms
of Dilatancy and Failure of Dense Granular Soils. Geotechnique 48:465–481
30. Oda M, Iwashita K (2000) Study on couple stress and shear band development in granular
media based on numerical simulation analyses. Int J Eng Sci 38:1713–1740
31. Lu J, Zhang C, Wang G, Jin F (1996) Three-dimensional distinct element numerical model
for static and dynamic analysis of rock bodies. Journal of Tsinghua University (Science and
Technology) 36:98–104 (in Chinese)
32. Lu, J. (1996). A study of numerical model of distinct element method and its application in
engineering. Dissertation. Tsinghua University
33. Hertz H (1882) On the contact of elastic solids. J Reine Angew Math. 92:156–171
34. Mindlin RD, Deresiewicz H (1953) Elastic Spheres in Contact under Varying Oblique Forces.
J Appl Mech 20(3):327–344
35. Archard JF (1953) Contact and rubbing of flat surfaces. J Appl Phys 24:981–988
36. Potyondy DO, Cundall PA (2004) A bonded-particle model for rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci
41(8):1329–1364
37. Horabik J, Molenda M (2016) Parameters and contact models for DEM simulations of
agricultural granular materials: A review. Biosyst Eng 147:206–225
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Interference
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United
States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License
included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you
are not located in the United States, you will have to check the
laws of the country where you are located before using this
eBook.

Title: Interference
A novel, Vol. 3 (of 3)

Author: B. M. Croker

Release date: November 23, 2023 [eBook #72210]

Language: English

Original publication: London: F. V. White & Co, 1891

Credits: MWS and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at

https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from
images generously made available by The Internet
Archive/American Libraries.)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK

INTERFERENCE ***
 INTERFERENCE.
A Novel.

BY
B. M. CROKER,
AUTHOR OF
“PROPER PRIDE,” “PRETTY MISS NEVILLE,”
“A BIRD OF PASSAGE,” “DIANA BARRINGTON,”
“TWO MASTERS,” &c.

IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. III.

London:
F. V. WHITE & CO.,
31, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND, W.C.
1891.
 PRINTED BY
KELLY & CO., MIDDLE MILL, KINGSTON-ON-THAMES;
AND GATE STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, W.C.
 CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
I.—“Miserrime” 1
II.—“The Honeymoon” 27
III.—A new Life 51
IV.—Mrs. Holryod desires to look into the Past 74
V.—Mrs. Redmond’s Confession 95
VI.—A grand Surprise for George 119
VII.—A Story in her Eyes 138
VIII.—Mr. Redmond’s Ambassador 155
IX.—Something to Read 183
X.—In which Belle’s wish is fulfilled 210
INTERFERENCE.
 CHAPTER I.
“MISERRIME.”

On the strength of his increase of income, Mr. Holroyd purchased

two ponies, and a cart (and this cart, it was noted, had a ladies’
step). He had long admired a certain empty bungalow with a large
garden, and rose-screened verandah. More than once he had
inspected the interior, and at last he boldly gave orders to the
landlord to have the garden put in order, the hedges clipped, and the
rooms matted. When it became noised abroad that George Holroyd
had been seen looking over a large double house, that he had
ordered a dinner-service, and a piano, the truth could be no longer
concealed, he was going to be married! This was a fine piece of
news for Mangobad. The men congratulated him somewhat sadly
but the ladies made up for them in fervour, and were all on the qui
vive to know what the bride would be like. Captain La Touche, being
searchingly cross-questioned, was able to gratify them with a few
particulars respecting her. She was young—only nineteen—Irish,
and pretty, and, as far as he could make out, she would be an
agreeable addition to their circle. Mr. Holroyd was not the least
bashful in accepting their good wishes, and seemed anxious to
bespeak their friendship for his future wife. She was so young and
inexperienced, he declared—quite a child in many ways, and only
hitherto accustomed to a very quiet country life. He was exceedingly
grateful for any suggestions offered by notable housekeepers and a
great deal of advice was placed ungrudgingly at his service. The
Judge’s wife engaged a cook, khansamah, and ayah; the Chaplain’s
sister superintended the purchase of lamps and kitchen utensils, the
Colonel’s two daughters chose furniture for the drawing-room, and
went over the rooms and discussed arrangements and
ornamentation with zeal.
 All at once the community were electrified to hear that Mr. Holroyd
had suddenly changed his mind about what was called the “garden”
bungalow, and was going into the two-storeyed one, which had so
long stood empty—the bungalow in which the last tenant, Major
Bagshawe, had cut his throat. What was the reason of such an
extraordinary freak? Why exchange a modern, well-built house, with
a cheerful aspect, for a gloomy tumble-down mansion—certainly
more imposing, and standing in quite a park-like enclosure, but
which had been abandoned to rats and ghosts for years. No one
knew the motive for this strange proceeding—not even Captain La
Touche.
A few days before “this mysterious caprice of George Holroyd’s,”
the long desired mail had been received—the mail which was to
bring him Betty’s answer in her own handwriting, instead of that of
the telegraph Baboo. The night before it was delivered in Mangobad,
he could scarcely close his eyes. He was astir by daybreak, and
watching for the post peon long before that worthy began his rounds.
Here he came in sight at last, and with a good plump packet of
letters in his hand. George almost tore them from him, and then
hurried into his room to read them in solitude, where no bearer with
tea, or sweeper with broom, dared disturb him. There was one from
his mother, one from his lawyer, one from Mrs. Redmond, one from
Belle, but where was Betty’s? He turned them over very carefully,
and then ran out after the dakwalla. “Hullo! Stop! Hold on!” he
shouted (in Hindustani of course), “you have another letter for me.”
The man halted and showed his wallet; there was nothing else
addressed to Mr. Holroyd, no, not even a trade circular. “There must
be some mistake,” he muttered to himself, as he slowly retraced his
steps. Could she have missed the mail? He must only content
himself with Mrs. Redmond’s epistle for the present, and, happy
thought, that thrifty old lady’s effusion might contain Betty’s letter
after all! Alas, no, there was only one sheet of paper within the
envelope, and this is what it said:
“Dear Mr. Holroyd,—Your letter and enclosure reached
me by the last mail, and I am rather concerned as to how to
reply to it, for I have taken a step that will surprise you and
 which you may never forgive—I have given your offer of
marriage to my daughter Belle.”
A rush of blood came suddenly to George Holroyd’s ears, the
paper seemed to swim before him; he threw it down on the table,
and placing both hands to his head, exclaimed aloud:
“I must be going mad! Either that, or she is writing from a lunatic
asylum!”
After a moment’s pause, he once more snatched up the letter, and
read on:
“There was nothing in your note that did not equally apply
to her, and Belle is so fond of you, and you paid her such
marked attention, that if you were to marry Betty she would
lose her reason—or break her heart.
“India has always been her dream, and, with you and India
combined, her happiness is assured, and I may tell you
frankly, that this is all that I now care for. You will think me a
very wicked, unprincipled old woman, but I have your
interests at heart, as well as Belle’s, and, though I shall not
live to know it, you will approve of my conduct yet. I am dying
by inches. I may not see another summer, and I obey the
most natural of all instincts in providing (when I can) for my
own child. Even if you execrate me, I can endure your hatred,
for I shall be supported by the conviction, that I have done
well.
“Belle, beautiful, animated, and accustomed to the best
military society, is the beau ideal of an officer’s wife, and will
be in a congenial sphere—your credit and your comfort. Betty
—a simple, little, awkward girl, with no ideas beyond horses
and dogs and flowers—is cut out for the position she is about
to fill; as the wife of a wealthy country gentleman, she can
make herself happy in her own land, she is in her element
among poor people, or in the hunting-field, and would be quite
miserable in India. She is going to marry Augustus Moore;
 they are devotedly attached to one another, and he has
known her from her childhood.”
“Mentitor fortiter,” was Mrs. Redmond’s motto, and to do her
justice, she lived up to it; in a crisis like the present what was a lie
more or less? This notable falsehood gave a neat and suitable finish
to the whole scheme. Moreover, like all lies of the most dangerous
class, it contained a grain of the truth—Augustus Moore had known
Betty from childhood, and a less keen-sighted woman than the
mistress of Noone, could see that he was her slave; the match was
merely a question of time.
“In withholding your offer from Betty,” the letter went on to say, “I
am sparing you the mortification of a refusal. I have put the round
people in the round holes in spite of you, you see, and by the time
you are reading this, Belle (who knows nothing, poor darling) will be
half way to India with the Calverts. Betty has been helping her most
zealously in her preparations, and keeping up all our spirits with her
merry ways, and gay little jokes and songs.
“I do not know what we should have done without her; she has not
the faintest suspicion that you care for her, for all her thoughts are
fixed in another direction. Be good to Belle—she is quite a child, a
spoiled child in many ways; she is not much of a manager or
housekeeper, for I have wished her to make the most of her youth,
and only asked her to be happy and to look pretty. She is devoted to
you, and has been so from the very first, though with true maidenly
dignity she has concealed her feelings—even from me, but I know
that the prospect of being your wife, has filled her with unspeakable
happiness. Perhaps, after all, you may repudiate her love, you may
refuse to receive her, and leave her a friendless, nervous, sensitive
girl, unwelcomed in a strange land—only to return home broken-
hearted, dis-illusioned, and disgraced; but I scarcely believe you will
be capable of this, knowing that she loves you, confides in you, and
has no friends in India. Do not answer this letter. I may as well tell
you, candidly, that if you do I shall not read it, but will put it into the
fire, for in my failing health, my medical man advises me strictly
against any kind of unnecessary agitation. Pray, believe me yours
most faithfully,
 “Emma Redmond.”
By the time George Holroyd had come to the end of this precious
epistle, it would be impossible to describe his feelings; they were a
mixture of incredulity, horror, agonising disappointment, and
uncontrollable fury.
“Mrs. Redmond was mad!” this he swore with a great oath; “or he
was mad, and everyone was mad.”
He seized his mother’s letter, much as a drowning man clutches at
a straw; it proved to be a somewhat querulous effusion, wondering
that he had never given her a hint of his intentions, amazed to hear
of his engagement to Belle, and pathetically imploring him to “think it
over,” but wishing him every happiness—whatever his fate.
Delighted at the news of his uncle’s generosity, and hinting (nay,
more than hinting) that he might share some of his good fortune with
Denis—openly stating that his poor dear brother wrote the most
pitiful accounts of his circumstances, and that she was sure he
would be annoyed to hear that he had actually applied to Mrs.
Maccabe for pecuniary assistance, instead of to his own flesh and
blood, and that a line to Denis Malone, care of the barman at the
Kangaroo Arms, Albany, South Australia, would always find him.
George put this epistle aside, and tore open Belle’s envelope with
a shaking hand.
When his eyes fell on the page beginning “My own, own darling,”
he crumbled the letter up into a ball, and dashed it from him with
anything but a lover-like gesture.
Then he rose and began to walk about the room like a man
possessed. He might have guessed how it would be! Betty was not
bound to him in any way, and whilst he had been toiling for her in
silence, at the other side of the world—Ghosty Moore was within
speech—within a ride!
Ghosty Moore was rich, young, and popular. He could give her
everything her heart desired. She would marry him, and be beloved,
admired and happy. A county lady with half a dozen hunters, and as
many dogs as she pleased. As for him, his life was wrecked, it did
not matter what became of him; he threw himself into a chair, leant
his arms on the table, buried his head in them, and wished himself
dead.
That Betty was lost to him was beyond doubt, and that Belle was
on her way out to marry him, was also beyond doubt; but no, he said
to himself fiercely, he would never make her his wife, and thus fulfil
the schemes, and be the easy tool, of her iniquitous old mother;
never!
To have the dearest hopes of his life dispersed by one shattering
blow was surely sufficiently hard for a man to bear, but to have
another fate imperatively thrust on him within the same hour—a fate
from which his highest and best feelings instinctively recoiled—a fate
that his heart most passionately repudiated—this was to drink the
cup of bitterness to the dregs, twice!
And if he refused to accept Belle as his bride, what was his
alternative? he asked himself, with fierce perplexity.
He felt dazed and stunned; the more he endeavoured to muster
his thoughts, to pursue ideas, to reach some definite plan, the more
unmanageable those thoughts and ideas became.
It was desperately hard to realise that one short ten minutes had
changed the whole current of his life.

Even to one’s old familiar friend, I doubt if it is wise to give the

entrée to your private room at all hours. He may chance to find a
soul in earthly torment, a mind en deshabille, with the mask of
conventionality, and the cloak of reserve, torn off, and thrown to the
winds.
Captain La Touche was whistling cheerily as he crossed the
verandah, and entered his comrade’s apartment. He looked cool,
handsome, and debonnair in his creaseless white suit and spotless
linen (he was such a dandy that he actually sent his shirts twice a
month to England to be washed; and oh! feat beyond the
dhoby!glazed). He had evidently had a good mail, for his face was
radiant, and he carried a packet of letters, and a French comic paper
in his hand. All at once his whistling ceased, as his eyes fell on his
comrade’s prone head—and the torn and discarded letters scattered
broadcast about the floor.
“Hullo, George, my dear old chap!” he exclaimed, “you have not
any bad news I hope. No one dead, eh?”
George raised a rigid white face to his, and gazed at him blankly
and shook his head.
“Your money gone again, eh?”
“No!”
“Oh, come then, it can’t be so very bad, pull yourself together, my
son, and have a whisky and soda; you look as if you had been
knocked into the middle of next week. What is it all about?”
“I’ve—I’ve a splitting headache.”
“Oh, and is that all?” rather dubiously.
“And some rather worrying letters,” he continued, making a great
effort to carry out the second part of his visitor’s prescription. “I shall
be all right by and by, don’t mind me.”
At first a wild idea had flashed through his brain. He would consult
his friend, and put the whole story before him, like a hard case in
Vanity Fair, and say, “supposing a man proposes for one girl, and
another comes out instead, believing that she is the right one—what
would you do? Marry her?” But as he gazed at Captain La Touche,
that sleek, prosperous, cynical bachelor, Lord President of the Mess
(sometimes a heritage of woe) and bitter enemy of matrimony, his
heart failed him. “Joe,” as he was called, would explode into one of
his loud bursts of laughter, and declare that it was the best joke he
had ever heard in the whole course of his life! Instead of being
sober-minded and sympathetic, he would chaffingly examine the
capabilities of the subjects for burlesque treatment; he would be
jocose and unbearable. But in this belief George did his friend
injustice!
 In one vivid mental flash, he saw the ordeal he would now have to
face at mess, an ordeal he dared not confront. The good-humoured
jokes, congratulations, and presents of his brother officers, were
acceptable enough yesterday, but to-day they would be torture, as it
were, searing a gaping wound with red-hot iron. How was he to
assume a part—he being no actor at the best of times—the part of
the happy and expectant bridegroom! His thoughts flew to a certain
lonely dâk bungalow, about twenty miles out, rarely frequented, and
sufficiently far from the haunts of men. He would go in at once for ten
days’ leave for snipe shooting, put a few things together, and gallop
out there as soon as orderly-room was over. He must be alone, like
some wounded animal, that plunges into the thicket, when it has
received a mortal hurt—that it may die apart from its fellows, and
endure its agony unseen.
Once there, he would have time to advise with himself, to review
the whole burning question, and to meditate on falsified hopes,
abandoned aims, and a lost love.
The maturing of this sudden project did not occupy sixty seconds,
and Captain La Touche was still standing interrogatively in the
doorway.
“I’m not feeling very fit, Joe, the cramming is beginning to tell as
you predicted. I think I shall go out for ten days’ snipe shooting, to
blow the cobwebs out of my brains.”
“It’s too early for snipe,” objected his visitor, “make it the end of
next week, and I’ll go with you, old man!”
“I saw several wisps coming in last evening and——”
“And of course I forgot,” interrupted the other jocosely, “your time
is short, poor fellow, and who knows if it may not be your last shoot.
Such things have happened! Where are you going?”
“I was thinking of Sungoo,” he returned rather nervously.
“Sungoo! A nasty feverish hole! I would not go there if I were you.”
“There are several first class jheels about, and I’d like to make a
good bag,” returned the other, now lying as freely as Mrs. Redmond
herself.
“Well, well, have your own way, you always do,” returned his chum
with a French shrug of his broad shoulders. “’Pon my word, you gave
me a jolly good fright, just now, I thought there was bad news,
something up at home. By-bye,” and he opened his big white
umbrella, and strode off to breakfast.
Sungoo dâk bungalow was retired enough for St. Anthony himself;
it stood aloof from the high road, behind a clump of bamboos, and a
hedge of somewhat dusty cactus.
George Holroyd’s active bearer made daily raids on the nearest
village for fowl and eggs and goat’s milk, whilst his master paced the
verandah, or tramped over the country, and fought with his thoughts,
and endeavoured to shape out his future life. Willingly would he
change his lot for that of one of the cheerful brown tillers of the soil,
by whom he was surrounded, and whom he came across in his long
and aimless wanderings. How absorbed and interested was that
young fellow, as he sat at the edge of a tank, dividing his time
between his bamboo rod, and bobbing line, and the inevitable huka
that stood beside him.
He did not seem to have a care in the world!—and it was never
likely to be his fate to marry a woman against his will! All the same,
did his envious observer but know the truth, it was more than
probable that the same young man had been married from his
cradle.
Sungoo dâk bungalow was not only famed for seclusion and sport
—it was notoriously unhealthy; the rank vegetation and the vapours
from the neighbouring reedy snipe jheels made it an undesirable
residence. Hideous spiders with wormy legs, and semi-tame toads
abounded in the three small rooms. Mushrooms grew out of the
walls, a family of noisy civet cats lodged in the roof, hundreds of
frogs held oratorios in a neighbouring pond, rendering sleep
impossible—and altogether it was as damp and dreary a dwelling as
anyone could wish to see; and a man who had taken a dislike to
existence could not have chosen a more congenial abode.
 One day George’s bearer went considerably further than the
nearest mud-walled village; he galloped post haste into Mangobad,
and informed Captain La Touche and his brother officers that his
master was very ill, in a raging fever, and “talking very strangely.”
“That’s it,” vociferated his chum, “I was afraid there was something
up. You notice he never sent in a single brace of snipe, and he
knows what a boon they are.”
He and the station doctor set off at once, and brought the patient
in the next morning in a dhooly. He was still in a high fever, but
perfectly conscious and alive to his surroundings.
For days he had been racked with an uncontrollable longing to see
Betty only once, and to speak to her face to face—as vain a longing
as that of the wretched captive in a deep, dark dungeon, who
languishes to see the sun!
As Captain La Touche sat by him, and gazed at him anxiously, he
opened his eyes, and said in a low voice: “Joe, I would give half my
life to see her but for five minutes—and to speak to her face to face.”
Captain La Touche was exceedingly concerned, and subsequently
told his brother officers that it looked like a bad business, for Holroyd
was still delirious and wandering in his mind.
Ten days’ excellent nursing brought him round, and the doctor was
most assiduous in what he called “patching him up” in order that he
might be in time to meet the steamer. Nevertheless all George’s
friends were shocked at the change that such a short illness had
made in his appearance. He looked as if he had aged ten years in
ten days; his eyes were sunken, his cheeks hollow, and he was so
weak and emaciated that, according to one of his comrades, “he
appeared to be walking about, to save the expenses of his funeral,”
and in this cheerful condition he went down to Bombay, to accept the
inevitable, and to receive his bride.
 CHAPTER II.
“THE HONEYMOON.”

“Face joys a costly mask to wear,

’Tis bought with pangs long nourishèd
And rounded to despair.”

“On the 5th instant, at the Cathedral, Bombay, by the Rev.

Erasmus Jones, George Holroyd, Lieutenant, Her Majesty’s Royal
Musketeers, only son of the late George Holroyd, and grandson of
Sir Mowbray Holroyd, of Rivals Place, county Durham, to Isabelle
Felicité, daughter of the late Fergus Redmond, grand-niece of Lord
Bogberry, and great-grand-niece of the Marquis of Round Tower. By
Telegram.”
Mrs. Redmond herself had composed this high-sounding
announcement, and had handed it to Colonel Calvert, with
instructions to insert the date, and not to trust it to Holroyd, but to
see to it himself—perhaps in her secret heart she feared that George
might modify her magnificent composition.
The wedding was strictly private, and if the bridegroom looked
haggard and pre-occupied, the bride was both blooming and
beaming. The Calverts and Miss Gay were the only guests, and after
the ceremony, the happy pair went direct to the railway station, and
departed on a tour up country. They visited Jeypore, Ajmir, Delhi,
Agra, and Lucknow. Belle liked the bustle, the constant change, the
novelty of her surroundings, the admiring eyes of other passengers,
and the luxury of having every wish most carefully studied. But she
did not much appreciate Indian sights and Indian scenery. She gave
them but a very cursory notice, her attention being chiefly centred on
her fellow travellers. It was the flood-tide of the globe-trotting season
—English, Americans, French, and Australians, were scattered over
the land in hundreds, “doing India,” from a certain point of view, and
believing that when they had seen the Taj at Agra, the burning ghaut
at Benares, the snows at Darjeeling, a snake charmer, and a fakeer,
they were henceforth qualified authorities on the Eastern question!
The hotels were crammed, the proprietors reaping a golden harvest,
and often at their wits’ end to find quarters for their guests. Belle
enjoyed the numerous and varied society she met at the table
d’hôte, her roving, challenging dark eyes daily wandered among
what were, to her, entirely new types. There was the purse-proud,
tubby little man, who scorned the letter H and expected to be served
as promptly and as obsequiously as if he were in his own house;
who roared and stormed in English at amazed Mahomedan
khitmatgars, who did not understand either him or his wants. There
were the people who entered into conversation right and left, and
cheerfully discussed plans and places, the people who never opened
their mouths but to receive their forks—or knives; the people who ate
everything, the people who barely tasted a morsel—and the delicate
couple from Calcutta who had brought their own cook! The American
party, mostly wearing pince-nez, bright, brisk, agreeable, seeing the
world at rail-road speed and pleased with all they saw, sleeping in
trains, eating in “ticca” gharries, en route to some sight, and writing
up their diaries at every spare moment. The English family—
comprised of a father collecting facts, a mother collecting pottery,
two pretty daughters, a valet and a maid—to whom time and money
were no object, and who were a perfect fortune to the hawkers who
haunted the hotel verandahs. There was the gentleman from New
Zealand, who was surprised at nothing but the gigantic size of the
cockroaches, and the ruddy-cheeked youth from Belfast, who was
surprised at everything, and who half expected to see tigers sporting
on the Apollo Bunder or chasing the Bombay trams; also the two
cautious ladies, who brought their hand-bags to the table, and read
guide books between the courses. Moreover, there was the
handsome rich young man who had come out to shoot big game,
and discoursed eloquently of the delights of the Terai, and the merits
of explosive bullets, and shikar elephants, and was not unlikely to be
“brought down” himself by the bright eyes of an Australian girl, who
played off Japan against the jungles. Last, but not least, the