Three-dimensional discrete element simulation for granular materials

Purpose - Develop a new three-dimensional discrete element code (BLOKS3D) for efficient simulation of polyhedral particles of any size. The paper describes efficient algorithms for the most important ingredients of a discrete element code.Design methodology approach - New algorithms are presented fo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Engineering computations 2006-10, Vol.23 (7), p.749-770
Main Authors: Zhao, Dawei, Nezami, Erfan G., Hashash, Youssef M.A., Ghaboussi, Jamshid
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Applications
Computational techniques
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Design
Discriminant analysis
Engineering
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Granular materials
Granular solids
Inertia
Libraries
Material form
Mathematical methods in physics
Mathematical models
Mechanical contact (friction...)
Particle size
Physics
Rheology
Simulation
Solid mechanics
Structural and continuum mechanics
Studies
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Purpose - Develop a new three-dimensional discrete element code (BLOKS3D) for efficient simulation of polyhedral particles of any size. The paper describes efficient algorithms for the most important ingredients of a discrete element code.Design methodology approach - New algorithms are presented for contact resolution and detection (including neighbor search and contact detection sections), contact point and force detection, and contact damping. In contact resolution and detection, a new neighbor search algorithm called TLS is described. Each contact is modeled with multiple contact points. A non-linear force-displacement relationship is suggested for contact force calculation and a dual-criterion is employed for contact damping. The performance of the algorithm is compared to those currently available in the literature.Findings - The algorithms are proven to significantly improve the analysis speed. A series of examples are presented to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms and the overall discrete element method (DEM) code.Originality value - Long computational times required to simulate large numbers of particles have been a major hindering factor in extensive application of DEM in many engineering applications. This paper describes an effort to enhance the available algorithms and further the engineering application of DEM.
ISSN:0264-4401
1758-7077
DOI:10.1108/02644400610689884