A numerical simulation of the coal cutting process using a conical pick at different cutting angles
D.A. Zadkov1, S.A. Chupin1, A.F. Pryalukhin1, S.E. Rechkin1, M.V. Sadovsky2
1 Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
2 Greens Mining LLC, Novokuznetsk, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4S/ 2026 p. 172-179
Abstract: This paper presents the results of a numerical simulation of coal cutting with a tangential rotary pick using the LS-DYNA software suite. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the pick installation angle on the force parameters of the cutting process. The rock mass was represented by a deformable coal block, while the cutting tool was modeled as a rigid body. The installation angle varied from 45° to 53° with a step of 2°. The mechanical behavior and failure of coal were described using the Holmquist–Johnson–Cook material model with account of the accumulated damage and removal of the failed elements. The calculation cases were compared using the mean and peak cutting forces, the mean and peak normal forces, and the failure pattern in the cutting zone. It was found that the dependence of the force parameters on the installation angle is nonmonotone. The minimum values of the mean cutting force, mean normal force, and peak cutting force were obtained at the installation angle of 51°. At this angle, the mean cutting force was 1.04 kN, the mean normal force was 0.27 kN, and the peak cutting force was 2.74 kN. The results indicate that the most efficient cutting mode is the chip-and-shear mode, in which the failure zone propagates from the pick tip toward the free surface of the coal block. The obtained results can be used to select rational pick installation parameters for the shearer drums of continuous miners.
Keywords: coal, coal cutting, tangential pick, cutting force, normal force, cutting angle, pick installation angle, rock mass to be cut, continuous miner
For citation: Zadkov D.A., Chupin S.A., Pryalukhin A.F., Rechkin S.E., Sadovsky M.V. A numerical simulation of the coal cutting process using a conical pick at different cutting angles. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4S):172–179. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4S-172-179
Article info
Received: 07.06.2026
Revised: 29.07.2026
Accepted: 21.08.2026
Information about the authors
Denis A. Zadkov – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1709-431X
Stanislav A. Chupin – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Department of Applied Digital Technologies, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4103-9636; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Aleksey F. Pryalukhin – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7643-7918
Semyon E. Rechkin – Student, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Maxim V. Sadovsky – Leading Design Engineer, Greens Mining LLC, Novokuznetsk, Russian Federation
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