Inter-particle torque scaling in coarse grained DEM with rolling resistance and particle size distributions

Abstract

Many coarse grain models and scaling laws for Discrete Element Method (DEM) have been reported, but very few properly discussed the scaling laws of inter-particle torques. The Scaled-Up Particle (SUP) model, which is proposed in the authors’ previous work, is a promising coarse grain model based on a set of universal scaling laws. The present work is dedicated to investigating the validity of the SUP model for particle bed and heap formation where rolling resistance is exerted on the particles. It is observed that the inter-particle scaling law in the SUP model can capture the original bulk density and angle of repose well, and the results are less sensitive to the scale factor compared with other models in literature. It is also proven that the model can be used to simulate a mixture of large and small particles.