Simulating Grain Shape Effects and Damage in Granular Media Using PeriDEM

Abstract

We provide a numerical platform for the analysis of particle shape and topology on the bulk behavior of granular media using a peridynamic based discrete element method, where the deformation and damage of individual particles are taken into account. To accommodate arbitrary particle shapes including nonconvex ones as well as particle topology, a method is developed to detect peridynamic bonds that extend outside the domain boundary. To avoid numerical oscillation on contact, Coulomb's law is modified for small velocity and a node-level damping is introduced. Particle contact with the rigid boundary wall is computed analytically to avoid treating the wall a peridynamic domain to improve simulation. Moreover, to generate an initial jammed particle distribution, a optimization-based method is used.