Feng, Y., Han, K., Owen, D.R.J., and Loughran, J. (2007) Upscaling of discrete element models for particle systems. In: Proceedings of Discrete Element Methods 2007. pp. 1-9. From: Discrete Element Methods (DEM) 2007, 27-29 AUG 2007, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

The Discrete Element Method has emerged as a powerful predictive tool for the numerical modelling of many problems involving discrete and discontinuous phenomena. For any practical application larger sized elements have to be employed to reduce the problem scale to a computable level. Also, multiscale-sized particles are often present in many industrial applications and these cannot be represented at the correct physical scale in models. There are two fundamental issues associated with the upscaling of discrete elements: 1) Under what conditions will the upscaled discrete element model exactly represent the original physical problem? 2) What is the solution accuracy of the model in terms of the number of discrete elements used? These two issues have important implications that are not well understood. Based on the introduction of particle strain and stress, the current work establishes three similarity principles, namely geometric, mechanical and dynamic, under which the scaled model can exactly reproduce the mechanical behaviour of a physical model. In particular, the concept of the scale invariance interaction law is further introduced and the scalability of a number of most commonly used interaction laws in the discrete element modelling is examined.

Item ID:	3170
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
ISSN:	1872-9444
Keywords:	discrete element; interaction law; scale invariance; upscaling; similarity; modelling error
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2009 03:55
FoR Codes:	09 ENGINEERING > 0913 Mechanical Engineering > 091399 Mechanical Engineering not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes:	87 CONSTRUCTION > 8703 Construction Materials Performance and Processes > 870302 Metals (e.g. Composites, Coatings, Bonding) @ 100%
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