Discrete element model for general polyhedra

authored by: Alfredo Gay Neto, Peter Wriggers
Abstract: We present a version of the Discrete Element Method considering the particles as rigid polyhedra. The Principle of Virtual Work is employed as basis for a multibody dynamics model. Each particle surface is split into sub-regions, which are tracked for contact with other sub-regions of neighboring particles. Contact interactions are modeled pointwise, considering vertex-face, edge-edge, vertex-edge and vertex-vertex interactions. General polyhedra with triangular faces are considered as particles, permitting multiple pointwise interactions which are automatically detected along the model evolution. We propose a combined interface law composed of a penalty and a barrier approach, to fulfill the contact constraints. Numerical examples demonstrate that the model can handle normal and frictional contact effects in a robust manner. These include simulations of convex and non-convex particles, showing the potential of applicability to materials with complex shaped particles such as sand and railway ballast.
Organisation(s): Institute of Continuum Mechanics
External Organisation(s): Universidade de Sao Paulo
Type: Article
Journal: Computational Particle Mechanics
Volume: 9
Pages: 353-380
No. of pages: 28
ISSN: 2196-4378
Publication date: 03.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Computational Mechanics, Civil and Structural Engineering, Numerical Analysis, Modelling and Simulation, Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes, Computational Mathematics
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-021-00415-z (Access: Open)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{8eb9f0928cf54ab5839260f18c7747c9,
title = "Discrete element model for general polyhedra",
abstract = "We present a version of the Discrete Element Method considering the particles as rigid polyhedra. The Principle of Virtual Work is employed as basis for a multibody dynamics model. Each particle surface is split into sub-regions, which are tracked for contact with other sub-regions of neighboring particles. Contact interactions are modeled pointwise, considering vertex-face, edge-edge, vertex-edge and vertex-vertex interactions. General polyhedra with triangular faces are considered as particles, permitting multiple pointwise interactions which are automatically detected along the model evolution. We propose a combined interface law composed of a penalty and a barrier approach, to fulfill the contact constraints. Numerical examples demonstrate that the model can handle normal and frictional contact effects in a robust manner. These include simulations of convex and non-convex particles, showing the potential of applicability to materials with complex shaped particles such as sand and railway ballast.",
keywords = "Barrier Method, Discrete Element Method, Master-master contact, Non-convex, Polyhedra",
author = "Neto, {Alfredo Gay} and Peter Wriggers",
note = "Funding Information: This study was financed by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and in part by the Coordena{\c c}{\~a}o de Aperfei{\c c}oamento de Pessoal de N{\'i}vel Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001. ",
year = "2022",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1007/s40571-021-00415-z",
language = "English",
volume = "9",
pages = "353--380",
journal = "Computational Particle Mechanics",
issn = "2196-4378",
publisher = "Springer International Publishing AG",
number = "2",
}