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An improved numerical scheme of DEFEM with distributed forces on the boundary of colliding particles

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Abstract

Based on the concept of embedded discrete element (EDE), the force distribution on the particle boundary is obtained based on the discrete element method (DEM). The EDE is considered to cover the boundary element of the particle to deal with the distribution of particle–particle contact forces. The contact on the boundary between particles is transformed into the contact between edges. The EDE simplifies the process of the treatment of particle–particle contacts with distributed forces. According to the Hertz stress distribution, it transforms from the resultant single force calculated by the soft-sphere model in the DEM to the distributed contact forces at the boundary nodes of the particle. The EDE transforms the resultant force into the distributed boundary force and provides the boundary conditions for the finite element model. This improved numerical format can also be used in the discrete element embedded final element method. The accuracy of this method is proved by a grid independence test and experimental validation. The above force transformation also helps to analyze the stress of particles in DEM.

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Acknowledgments

One of the authors (T. Hibiki) appreciates the support through the Global STEM Professorship from Hong Kong Government. The authors are also grateful for the support of this research by the National Science and Technology Major Project (2011ZX06901-003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology, Key Laboratory of Advanced Reactor Engineering and Safety, Ministry of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Xu Liu, Nan Gui, Mengqi Wu, Xingtuan Yang, Jiyuan Tu & Shengyao Jiang

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Xu Liu & Takashi Hibiki

  3. School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, 3083, Australia

    Jiyuan Tu

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  1. Xu Liu
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  2. Nan Gui
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  3. Mengqi Wu
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  4. Takashi Hibiki
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  5. Xingtuan Yang
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Correspondence to Nan Gui or Shengyao Jiang.

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Liu, X., Gui, N., Wu, M. et al. An improved numerical scheme of DEFEM with distributed forces on the boundary of colliding particles. Comp. Part. Mech. 10, 809–816 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-022-00532-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-022-00532-3

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