Mini-symposium S7

S7: Discrete Element Method Simulations: Research Advances and the CCC-Parasols Community

Co-chairs: 

Kevin J. Hanley (University of Edinburgh)*

John P. Morrissey (University of Edinburgh)

Catherine O'Sullivan (Imperial College London)

Keywords: Discrete element method; DEM; Particulate solids; Granular materials; Collaborative computational community; CCC-ParaSolS.

ABSTRACT

Particulate solids (granular materials) encompass natural soil deposits, pharmaceutical powders, food ingredients (e.g., powdered milk, flour), aggregates and cement used in construction, etc. Particulate solids are often inputs to manufacturing processes or are produced as intermediate/final products and as such, they have significant economic and societal importance. For example, they are fundamental to the UK chemical & pharmaceutical industry which annually generates over £60bn of exports and directly employs more than 130,000 people across over 4,000 businesses.

However, particulate systems are complex and contain material behaviours that are difficult to understand and predict. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is a computational method that simulates granular materials at a particle level allowing insight into the complex behaviours that are difficult to observe experimentally or with other computational tools.

CCC-ParaSolS (https://ccc-parasols.ed.ac.uk/) is an STFC-funded project, led by the mini-symposium organisers, to create a multi-disciplinary Collaborative Computational Community in particulate solids simulations, with a particular emphasis on DEM and open-source software. As part of this two-year project, CCC-ParaSolS is delivering bespoke training to lower the barriers to adopting open-source DEM codes and accessing high-performance computing, and undertaking code development projects of greatest benefit to the community.

This mini-symposium will start with a keynote talk from the core CCC-ParaSolS team to introduce the project (and DEM), its aims and objectives, progress to date, future plans, and opportunities for others to engage. The other talks in this mini-symposium will showcase a selection of the diverse and innovative research that is taking place using DEM, considering both development of DEM and its application in engineering science.