Abstract: In order to reveal the movement rule and influence factors of unloading trajectory for
particle material on transportation process, the transportation model of belt conveyor is built using
discrete element method. The transportation and projection behaviors of particle material are
simulated, and the analysis of the movement velocity and projection trajectory is finished. The
analysis results show that there are three phases including accumulation, projection and impact when
particles are transported on the belt conveyor. In the impact phase, the velocity and direction of
particles are changed continuously because of the impact between particle and dam-board or particle
and other particles. The change of velocity and direction is the main influence factor for particle
locations after falling to ground. According to the feeding sequence, particle materials are divided
into the initial feeding particles, the middle feeding particles and the last feeding particles. The
middle feeding particles are disturbed by other particles both in the projection and impact phases.
Therefore, there are large differences among the unloading trajectories of the middle feeding particles
as well as the locations after falling to ground. The important reason influencing transportation
efficiency is the large energy loss caused by impact.

Key words: particle material, transportation, discrete element, movement rule, impact