Lecture DEM

19.01.2011

Discrete Elemente Method (DEM)

Matthias Börner – NaWiTec, Institute of Process Engineering

Matthias.Boerner@ovgu.de

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Overview
Content

Introduction DEM
- What is DEM?
- Basics
- Equations and models
Software solutions
Example 1
- Screw auger
Coupling to CFD
Example 2
- Fluidized bed
2
Einführung
What is DEM

Problems in process engineering:

particle processes and particle

handling

3
Introduction
What is DEM

Working examples of DEM

4
Introduction
What is DEM

DEM – operational areas

Industry of bulk materials

- Mining
- Metallurgy
- Agriculture
Processes of particle formulation
- Pharmaceuticals
- Fertilizer industry
- Food industry
Mechanical + thermal process engineering
gas
- Drying
- Breakage events
- Behavior of bulk materials and transport solid
properties liquid
- Phase-coupled systems 5
Introduction
What is DEM

Diskrete Elemente Method x,vx F

Observation and mathematical description of

single objects / particles / granules (discrete
calculation)
Investigation of mechanical attributes of discrete
separated structures and allocations z,vz
y,vy
MeshIess method compared to FEM or FVM
Explicit numerical finding of solution (ODE
x,vx
systems)
Interactions between objects only at contact points
First scientific reference 1978 and further
developments by Cundal et al. using the program
BALL z,vz 6
y,vy
Introduction
What is DEM

Advantages
Few equations which have to be solved for each object
Forces and motions can be investigated for each single object
in the middle of system, which are usually not measureable

Limits in usage
Real particle systems consists of billions of elements
All-embracing description not feasible
Compromises by system simplifications – partially difficult to get
conclusions about the system behavior of real, large production
plants
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Introduction
What is DEM

Current particle–paricle and

particle–wall position as well as
estabished connections

Newton„s Force displacement law

law of motion (applied on every contact)
(applied on every particle) Relative motion
force + momentum Constitutive laws

Contact forces

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Introduction
What is DEM

Newton‘s laws of motion

I. law
v const wenn Fi 0
i
II. law
dI dmv Discription of particle
F= = motion
dt dt
III. law

FA-B = -FA-B
Superposition of forces
Fres =F1 +F2 +...+Fn
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Introduction
What is DEM

Force displacement law

Finding contact forces during interaction with resulting
displacement of elements
contact models
Fn

Ft

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Introduction
Basics

DEM - organization

Neighborhood search
- Determination of interacting particle pairs
- Wall dependencies

Force calculation
- Calculation of forces acting on particles

Integration
- transient dependencies of particle dynamics

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Introduction
Basics

Neighbourhood search

Finding surfaces and volumes in contact with each other

If no contact exists – exceptionally Newton„s second law
At contact – solution of Newton and force displacement law
Basis: an efficient algorithm for contact search of polygonal
constructed particles – for identical particles “spatial
hashing”
Naive neighborhood search is time consuming due to complex
system structure

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Introduction
Basics

Particle interactions
Description of single particles interactions with each other and with
their vicinity/wall
Description by so-called contact models
Basis is the force displacement law

Hard-Sphere and Soft-Sphere

(momentum based exchange forces) (contact forces)

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I ab I n nab I t nab Fcontact ,a Fab,n Fab,t
Introduction
Basics

Contact models
At the contact of particles an overlap at the contact area is allowed
(Soft-sphere)
Choice of approach depends on particle velocities –
- low velocities: soft sphere
- high velocities: hard sphere
Hard-sphere approach fails in prediction at low particle velocities and
long contact times δ
At low contact times (high particle
velocities) the time step resolution
to handle particle contacts increases F F
for the Soft-sphere approach
- Correspondingly more time steps A 14
and longer calculation time
Introduction
Basics

Hertz-Mindlin contact modell

(with and without slip)

- Hertz (Journal of Applied Mechanics 1949)

- Approximation of particle impact like a dash pot, non-linear
- Interconection of springs and dash pots in series
- only for sheres in contact

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Introduction
Basics

Linear-Spring contact modell

- Extention of Hertz-Model by Cundal 1979

- Simplified solution method – faster in calculation
- Partially based on non-physical models (spring stiffness)

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Introduction
Basics

Further contact models

For considering various system characteristics

Bond model – strong connection/bond between particle, breakage is

possible, extension of Hertz-Mindlin
Ductile model – Extension of bond model to consider brittle breakage
Cohesion model – Additional inter-particle forces (e.g. van der Waals)
Electrostatic model – Impact on particles in surrounding without direct
contact
Burger‘s model – Combination of Maxwell and Kelvin to investigate
creep processes
etc.
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Introduction
Basics

Time integration
Rayleigh time step
- transient description of particle impact
- tsim < 0.25 tR for sufficient accuracy
2
1
δ Shear waves
through particle

2
1 3

3
18
tR
 Simulation
Parameter

Necessary material properties

Particulate properties to simulate the system of materials

Density ρ in [kg/m³] Volume

Mass
Partikulär

Particle diameter d in [m]

Moment of inertia

Shear modul in [Pa]

Poisson„s ratio

Coefficient of restitution
partikulär
Inter-

Coefficent of static friction

Coefficent of rolling friction
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 Simulation
Parameter

Values of a simulation

Calculated values as result of simulation

x-coordinate Total energy

Position

Potential energy

Kräfte / Energie
y-coordinate
z-coordinate Kinetic energy
Rotational energie
Total force
Abhängigkeit

Velocity (vx,vy,vz)
Zeitliche

Angular velocity Compression force

Mass Momentum
Volume
partikulär

Collisionfrequence
Inter-

Forces in bonds 20
Simulation
Software

Commercial Software
- EDEM by DEM-Solutions
- PFC by Itasca
- Chute Maven by Hustrulid
Technologies
- Elven by Rockfield Software
- SimPARTIK by Frauenhofer Institut

Open Source
- LAMMPS
- LIGGGHTS (CFDEM)
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Simulation
Software

EDEM – Software for applied particle processes

Short presentation about DEM-applications using the commerical

software EDEM

Product of DEM-Solutions Ltd.

Company founded in 2002
First EDEM version in 2005
Contineous developments in the software
Simple structure with graphical user interface

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Simulation
Software

Scheme of a DEM-simulation

Geometry Creator Simulator Analyzer

Globals Time step Analyzes and graphical
CAD-Program
Particles Cell size output of results, export to
Usual formats can be imported
Geometry Progress of external programs (e.g.
Simple geometries can be
Factory simulation EnSight)
created within

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Example 1
Screw auger

Transport of bulk materials

Simulation of transport phenomena of spherical particles in a

rotating screw auger

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Example 1
Screw auger

Results of simulation

Elongated particle form

(contained of 6 particles)
Rotation of particles
+ transport of particles

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Coupling with CFD
Basics

Coupled simulations between CFD and DEM

Pneumatic transport

Dry powder inhaler

Particle motions through constrictions 26

Coupling with CFD
Basics

Eulerian-Lagrange coupling between CFD and

DEM
Gas / fluid phase
- Calculation of fluid flow with the continuums approach,
Navier-Stokes equations
- FVM, mesh based

Solid phase
- Discrete calculation of single particles
- solid concentration below <10%
- e.g. DPM, Ansys

UDF
CFD DEM
Momentum exchange
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Coupling with CFD
Basics

Eulerian-Eulerian coupling between CFD and DEM

Gas / fluid phase
- Calculation of fluid flow with the continuums approach,
Navier-Stokes equations
- FVM, mesh based

Solid phase
- Discrete calculation of single particles
- facilitates the handling of high solid concentrations
- in EDEM

UDF
CFD DEM
Momentum exchange
+ conservation of mass-
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and momentum
Coupling with CFD
Basics

Field coupling between DEM und CFD

Gas / fluid phase
- Stationary calculation of fluid flow with the continuums
approach, Navier-Stokes equations
- FVM, mesh based
- Export of field data (CGNS-Format)

Solid phase
- Discrete calculation of single particles
- Lagrange or Eulerian
- Only applicable, if particles do not effect the fluid flow
- indirecte coupling scheme for both phases

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Coupling with CFD
Basics

Scheme of coupled DEM-CFD-simulation

Geometry
in CAD (Import to Ansys) or Design
Modeller

Meshing
Ansys Meshing

Configuration EDEM EDEM EDEM

Fluent simulation adjustments for fluid Adjustments for Creator Simulator
flow coupling

Calculation

Post-Processing
CFD-Post or Ensight
Analysis and graphical output of both
results 30
Coupling with CFD
Basics

Scheme of a coupled simulation

Transfer of fluid EDEM:
field data to EDEM Time step of EDEM
begins after the
converged solution is
delivered by Fluent

Fluent:
Calculation until a
converged solution

EDEM:
Drag and lift forces
determined by Fluent
are applied on particles
at the according position

Fluent:
Particle forces calculated in
EDEM are applied in Fluent
grid cells causing a Particle EDEM:
momentum sink or an
energy source coordinates Particle position is
are transfered updated
to Fluent 31
Coupling with CFD
Basics

Solid volume fraction estimation

Estimation of solid fraction in CFD grid
- Sample points determine if a particle is contained in a grid cell
and how much volume it occupies
- the more sample points are used the more precise and accurate
the solution 2/9
1/9

m
SiVparticle 6/9
i 3/9
DEM
N sampleV fluidcell
5/9 4/9

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Coupling with CFD
Basics

Drag force on particles

Fluid forces appealing on particles
- various relations are published e.g.:
- Kürten FG FA
- Clift
- Di Felice
- Ergun und Wen & Yu

Ffreestream 0.5cD f Ap v f vp v f vp
FD FL

FD Ffreestream
2
4.8
cD 0.63
Re0.5 33
Example 2
Fluidized bed

Particlde dynamic in fluidized beds

Simulation of mixing, heat and mass transfer processes

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Example 2
Fluidized bed

Results of simulation

Bi-disperse particle system

d1 = 2mm
d2 = 5mm
ugas = 6 m/s

Facts of interest:
- Mixing effects of both particle
systems
- Discharge behavior
- Fluidization behavior

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End
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