Resolving particle shape in DEM simulations from tabulated geometry information

Abstract

DEM applications require versatile representations of the particle shapes. The downside of resolved shapes is the required computational effort. In this short communication, we propose new measures to reduce the computational effort needed to evaluate the pairwise contact of resolved polytopes in DEM simulations. Employing the Gilbert–Johnson–Keerthi (GJK) and Expanding Polytope algorithm (EPA) algorithm it is demonstrated that restricting the particle vertices to the actually required ones, which can be obtained from a directional tabulation prior to the simulation, reduces the computational effort drastically. The feasibility of this strategy is evaluated and discussed. Applicability is demonstrated by comparing the simulated granular outflow of regular polyhedrons with differently resolved edges from a hopper with experimental data. The results obtained disclose the strong effect of geometric features on particle discharge.