Mini-Symposia

The applications and algorithms of coupled MPM-DEM

Most of the processes and phenomena in nature and industry (e.g., fluidized beds, marine engineering, geological hazards, etc) involve complex Multi-phase, Multi-process and Multi-scale problems (“3M”). In recent years, with the rapid development of numerical methods and computer hardware, more and more researchers have taken advantage of DEM itself to develop the coupling algorithms with other numerical methods (e.g., FEM, MPM, SPH and LBM, etc.). So that we can better carry out the studies and analysis of these complex processes from the physical and mechanical mechanisms of their “3M” than only one numerical method.

This Mini-Symposia focuses on the developing coupled MPM-DEM algorithm as well as their application in industry or natural field. The objectives of the presentation include but not limited to:

  • Development of the coupled DEM algorithms with MPM and so on.
  • The parallel technologies for the algorithms, such as MPI, GPU and so on.
  • Case study using the coupled MPM-DEM algorithms, such as the application in the industry fields and natural hazards (landslide, tsunami, debris flow and so on).

Organisers:
Wen-Jie Xu
Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

 

DEM for Understanding Complex Flows in Gas-Particle Systems

This symposium aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of complex flows in gas-particle systems using DEM related novel computational methods. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners, and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of gas-particle systems.

  • Fully Resolved Computational Methods: FV-DEM, FE-DEM, LBM-DEM, SPH-DEM, etc.
  • Unresolved Computational Methods: CFD-DEM, LBM-DEM, MP-PIC, etc.
  • Conceptual, Constructive, Empirical, Experimental, or Theoretical Work on Gas-Particle Systems.
  • Engineering and Industrial Applications Involving Gas-Particle Flows.

Organisers:
Limin Wang
Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Fengxian Fan
Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Kun Xue
Beijing Institute of Technology, China

 

Advances in open-source DEM software

As problems get more and more complicated it is becoming increasingly difficult for PhD students to make progress by developing their own codes from scratch. Therefore, more and more we have to build on the previous generation of work, not only in terms of ideas but also with respect to software. This means going forward, large multi-developer open-source packages will become essential tools to remain at the forefront of the field.

There are many open-source codes for simulating particles, all with their own unique features. This session will serve the dual purpose of bringing together the developers of different open-source codes and also be a one-stop shop for potential new users.

Topics that could be covered during the minisymposium include, but are not limited to:

  • Overview of open-source DEM software.
  • Advancements in modelling complex granular systems.
  • Validation and verification of open-source DEM software.
  • Open-source software for DEM-based simulation of industrial processes.

Organisers:
Anthony Thornton
Department of Fluid and Thermal Engineering, University of Twente, The Netherlands
Thomas Weinhart
Department of Fluid and Thermal Engineering, University of Twente, The Netherlands
Bruno Chareyre
Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, Grenoble, France
Vasileios Angelidakis
Institute for Multiscale Simulation, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

 

DEM-based hybrid algorithms for particle-laden flows

The discrete element method (DEM) has become a popular choice to model processes involving granular materials and particulate systems, providing detailed information about the motion, forces, and interactions among individual particles with arbitrary shapes (e.g. spheres, rods, ellipsoids) and specific physical properties (e.g. charge, surface roughness). In DEM simulations, contact models are essential in describing the interactions (e.g. friction, adhesion, elastic) between particles and between particles and surfaces. In particle-laden flows, DEM is coupled to fluid solvers like the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), finite volume method (FVM), and direct numerical simulation DNS, to name a few. Furthermore, DEM can be coupled with external fields such as electric and magnetic fields to simulate various complex physics problems involving multiscale, multi-component, and many-body interactions such as electrophoresis, reactive flows, turbulence, multiphase flow, particle transport, inkjet printing, and artificial microswimmers.

This mini-symposium discusses DEM-based approaches for modelling particle-laden flows, emphasising the technical and computational challenges related to industrial and academic scale applications.

The topics of interest of this mini-symposium may include, but are not limited to:

  • Hybrid approaches combining DEM with external fields.
  • DEM application in renewable energies.
  • Porting DEM-based codes to next-generation supercomputing architectures.

Organisers:
Othmane Aouane
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK11), Germany
Jens Harting
(1) Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK11), Germany
(2) Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

 

Packings and jamming: a journey through scales

Granular materials can undergo a jamming transition: from a flowing, liquid-like state, they can develop rigidity and resist finite loads, akin to solids. The emergence of such collective behaviour from the assembly of discrete particles urges us to interrogate the mesoscale, focusing on the geometrical features of dense packings. The mechanical properties of dense granular packings are mediated by both the statistics of the contact network and the properties of individual contacts. DEM simulations provide a valuable tool to link particle properties, the characteristics of the packing and, ultimately, the macroscale mechanical response of the granulate in the jammed state.

In this mini-symposium, we will discuss the latest developments in the DEM-based investigation of packing problems and jamming in particulate systems. Additionally, we will address how these results can be harvested to develop new technologies, notably in soft-robotics.

Organisers:
Olfa D’Angelo
Institute for Multiscale Simulation, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Patric Müller
Institute for Multiscale Simulation, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg

 

Machine Learning-Assisted Modelling of Granular Systems

Granular materials are ubiquitous in many engineering, industrial and natural systems. The Discrete element method (DEM) is the most powerful computational tool to simulate granular media and has played a vital role in understanding and predicting the behaviour of this type of material. However, complex particle-scale interactions, intricate grain shape reconstruction, expensive computational costs, and time-consuming parameter calibration pose longstanding challenges to DEM in modelling granular media and its related engineering and industrial problems. Recently, there has been a growing interest in applying machine learning techniques, either as an alternative or supplementary to DEM, for modelling granular systems. These techniques have yielded many promising results that are difficult to achieve with traditional DEM.

Organisers:
Yuntian Feng
Swansea University, UK
Zhen-Yu Yin
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Jianfeng Jeff Wang
City University of Hong Kong
Tongming Qu
Hong Kong University of science and Technology

 

Developments of Non-Spherical Particle Contact Theories, Models, Algorithms and Practical Applications

Over the last three decades, developing contact models for non-spherical particles has been a major research theme in DEM, and significant progress has been made, and particularly in recent years. This is evident by the fact that modelling non-spherical particles is supported by several international leading DEM software providers. This mini-symposium aims to invite some experts in the field to update the state-of-the-art and exchange ideas and current advances in non-spherical particle contact theories, models, algorithms, and practical applications.

Organisers:
Yuntian Feng
Swansea University, UK
Shunying Ji
Dalian University of Technology, China
Xiaoyan Ye
Lanzhou University, China

 

Advancements in additive manufacturing processes through the use of the Discrete Element Method (DEM)

Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques have revolutionized various industries by enabling the production of complex geometries with unprecedented precision. This minisymposium proposal aims to bring together researchers and experts to discuss the intricate interplay between powder spreading, the application of the Discrete Element Method (DEM), and the dynamic phase change phenomena in additive manufacturing. By exploring these key areas, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of AM processes and pave the way for advancements in process control, material quality, and part performance.
Topics that could be covered during the mini-symposium include, but are not limited to:

  • Powder Spreading and material structure
  • Phase change dynamics in Additive Manufacturing
  • Advanced Simulation Techniques in Additive Manufacturing
  • Advanced Process Control and Optimization

Organisers:
Sudeshna Roy
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Thomas Weinhart
Department of Fluid and Thermal Engineering, University of Twente