Evaluation of heat transfer on a backward acting grate

in MECHANIKA (2014), 20

XDEM - FEM Coupling Simulations of the Interactions between a Tire Tread and Granular Terrain

E-print/Working paper (2014)

This study proposes an efficient combination of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM) to study the tractive performance of a rubber tire in interaction with granular ... [more ▼]

This study proposes an efficient combination of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM) to study the tractive performance of a rubber tire in interaction with granular terrain. The presented approach is relevant to all engineering devices interacting with granular matter which causes response forces. Herein, the extended discrete element method (XDEM) is used to describe the dynamics of the granular assembly. On the one hand, the discrete approach accounts for the motion and forces of each grain individually. On the other hand, the finite element method accurately predicts the deformations and stresses acting within the tire tread. Hence, the simulation domain occupied by the tire tread is efficiently described as a continuous entity. The coupling of both methods is based on the interface shared by the two spatially separated domains. Contact forces develop at the interface and propagate into each domain. The coupling method enables to capture both responses simultaneously and allows to sufficiently resolve the different length scales. Each grain in contact with the surface of the tire tread generates a contact force which it reacts on repulsively. The contact forces sum up over the tread surface and cause the tire tread to deform. The coupling method compensates quite naturally the shortages of both numerical methods. It further employs a fast contact detection algorithm to save valuable computation time. The proposed DEM-FEM Coupling technique was employed to study the tractive performance of a rubber tire with lug tread patterns in a soil bed. The contact forces at the tread surface are captured by 3D simulations for a tire slip of 5%. The simulations showed to accurately recapture the gross tractive effort, running resistance and drawbar pull of the tire tread in comparison to related measurements. Further, the traction mechanisms between the tire tread and the granular ground are studied by analysing the motion of the soil grains and the deformation of the tread. [less ▲]

Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of the Residence Time Characteristics on a Forward Acting Grate

in Condensed Matter 2014 (2014)

Beschreibung des Transportes von Schwimmkörpern bei Flutwasser über eine Euler-Lagrange Kopplung

in Dresdner Wasserbauliche Mitteilungen (2014)

Simulation des Traktionsverhaltens von Reifen auf granularem Untergrund durch eine Kopplung zwischen der Finiten (FEM) und der Diskreten Element Methode (DEM)

in VDI-Berichte "Reifen-Fahrwerk-Fahrbahn" (2013, October)

Kurzfassung Innerhalb dieses Beitrags wird die numerische Simulationsmethode der Extended Discrete Element Methode (XDEM) vorgestellt, mit der die Wechselwirkung zwischen Reifen und steinigem Untergrund ... [more ▼]

Kurzfassung Innerhalb dieses Beitrags wird die numerische Simulationsmethode der Extended Discrete Element Methode (XDEM) vorgestellt, mit der die Wechselwirkung zwischen Reifen und steinigem Untergrund detailliert beschrieben werden kann. Dabei wird der Reifen als ein Kontinuum betrachtet, das mit der Finiten Element Methode (FEM) abgebildet wird. Der grobkörnige Untergrund, wie beispielsweise Sand oder Kies, wird als granulares Medium betrachtet. Dieses kann sehr vorteilhaft mit der Diskreten Element Methode (DEM) behandelt werden, die eine Betrachtung der individuellen Partikel zulässt. Basierend auf den Gesetzen von Newton werden Position und Orientierung aller Partikel berechnet, wobei Kräfte zwischen den Partikeln und dem Reifen berücksichtigt werden. Kräfte zwischen Partikeln und Reifen treten als Randbedingungen in der FEM Struktur des Reifens auf, und führen damit zur Deformation und somit zu Spannungverteilung in der Reifenstrucktur. Eine Integration in der Zeit bestimmt sowohl den Zustand des Untergrunds als auch die Reaktion des Reifens. Dies wird durch eine innovative Kopplung zwischen der Discrete Particle Method (DPM) zur Beschreibung des granularen Mediums und dem Finite Element Löser DiffPACK erreicht und deshalb als Extended Discrete Element Methode bezeichnet wird. Beides sind objekt- orientierte Software-Werkzeuge, die über eine Schnittstelle die notwendigen Daten austauschen, so dass der Anwender sein Augenmerk auf die Problemlösung richten kann als sich mit Datenaustausch und Algorithmen zu befassen. Damit wurde ein vielseitiges und flexibles Werkzeug zur Lösung vielfältiger Probleme wie auch die Bewegung eines Reifens im Schnee geschaffen. Das neuartige Konzept ist sowohl auf Windows als auch auf UNIX basierenden Betriebssystemen verfügbar. Abstract The objective of this contribution is to resolve different length scales in structure analysis by an interface coupling the Discrete Element Method (DEM) with the Finite Element Method (FEM) and therefore, is labelled Extended Discrete Element Methode (XDEM). This approach distinguishes itself from other methods in so far that no overlapping domains between Finite and Discrete Elements exist. Both domains are separated in physical space and numerical simulation domain. The proposed approach is relevant to almost all engineering applications that deal with granular matter such as storage in hoppers, transport on conveyor belts or displacement of granular material as in mixers or excavation of soil. For these applications an engineering device such as mixer blades or cutting tools are in contact with granular matter. Contacts with individual particles generate contact forces that act on both the engineering device and the granular material. The latter experiences a displacement of individual particles whereby the engineering structure responds with deformation and stresses. In order to predict and optimize both the behaviour and motion of granular material and the structures in contact, numerical simulation tools are increasingly employed [1]. Simulations are popular especially because experiments which are often expensive, time- consuming and sometimes even dangerous [2]. The continuous increase in computing power is now enabling researchers to implement numerical methods that do not focus on the granular assembly as an entity, but rather deduce its global characteristics from observing the individual behaviour of each grain. An interaction between granular media and a structure relies on a transfer of forces between them. Granular media consists of an ensemble of particles of which a number of particles may be in contact with a surface e.g. walls as surfaces of solid structures. The contact is resolved similar to inter-particle contacts by a representative overlap. It defines the position of impact as well as the force acting on the particle at this position. The same force, however, into the opposite direction defines a mechanical load for the structure. In order to determine the effect of forces on the solid structure, it is discretised by finite elements. The impact of the force is transferred to the nodes of the respective surface element and appears as a load for the finite element system. Hence, integrating particle dynamics and the response of the solid structure due to particle impacts advances both new position of particles and corresponding deformation and stress of the solid structure in time. Developing flexible software which is capable of performing simulation in different applications will enable the engineers to focus entirely on their specific problem and hence save them valuable time. This concept is supported by the software tools of the Discrete Particle Method (DPM) and Diffpack. Hence, the solid structure is analysed by the Finite Element Method under load due to the impact of individual particles that changes both in time and space. For this purpose traditional formulations of the Finite Element Method are employed that are available by the commercial multi-physics software package Diffpack. It represents object-oriented hierarchy of classes that provide an excellent interface to introduce external loads from particle impact onto the finite element structure. Diffpack is an object-oriented development environment, which comes as a rich set of C++ classes, for the numerical modelling and solution of arbitrary differential equations. User applications cover a wider range of engineering areas and span from simple educational applications to major product development projects. The behaviour of granular material is represented by the advanced software package of the Discrete Particle Method (DPM), which is based on the Discrete Element Method. It is designed to relieve users from underlying mathematics and software design and allows them to focus on physics and their applications. The software uses object oriented techniques that support objects representing three-dimensional particles of various shapes such as cylinders, discs or tetrahedrons for example, size and material properties. This makes it a highly versatile tool dealing with a large variety of different applications of granular matter arising in the automotive industry, such as road tire interaction. Various force models for the inter- particle and particle-wall contacts are also available. A minimal user interface easily allows extending the software further by adding user-defined impact models or material properties to an already available selection of materials and properties. Thus, the user is relieved of the underlying mathematics or software design, and therefore, is able to direct his focus entirely onto the application. The Discrete Particle Method is written in C++ programming language and works both in Linux and Windows environments. [less ▲]

Die Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM) als integraler Ansatz für reagierende Mehrphasenströmungen

in 26. Deutscher Flammentag Verbrennung und Feuerung (2013, September)

Eine Großzahl technischer Anwendungen wie beispielsweise in der pharmazeutischen Industrie, Nahrungsmittelindustrie, Bergbau, Verfahrenstechnik oder Energiegewinnung durch Verbrennung von Feststoffen ... [more ▼]

Eine Großzahl technischer Anwendungen wie beispielsweise in der pharmazeutischen Industrie, Nahrungsmittelindustrie, Bergbau, Verfahrenstechnik oder Energiegewinnung durch Verbrennung von Feststoffen enthalten neben einer gasförmigen oder fluiden Phase eine diskrete Phase in Form von Partikeln oder Feststoffen. Diese Anwendungen lassen sich sehr vorteilhaft mit dem innovativen Konzept der Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM) numerisch beschreiben. Hierbei werden die einzelnen Partikel über den dynamischen Zustand (Position und Orientierung) und den thermodynamischen Zustand (Temperatur und Spezies) diskret beschrieben, wo hingegen die Gas- oder Flüssigphase über kontinuumsmechanische Ansätze der Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) berechnet wird. Beide Phasen – diskret und kontinuumsmechanisch – sind durch Austausch von Stoff, Wärme und Impuls gekoppelt, was damit eine detaillierte Auflösung der Phasen für CFD-Gesamtrechnungen ermöglicht. Dieser Ansatz wurde angewendet, um den Reaktionsprozess während der Pyrolyse von Holz in einem Festbettreaktor zu berechnen. [less ▲]

The extended discrete element method (XDEM) for multi-physics applications

in Scholarly Journal of Engineering Research (2013), 2

The Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM) is a novel numerical simulation technique that extends the dynamics of granular materials or particles as described through the classical Discrete Element ... [more ▼]

The Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM) is a novel numerical simulation technique that extends the dynamics of granular materials or particles as described through the classical Discrete Element Method (DEM) by additional properties such as the thermodynamic state, stress/strain, or electromagnetic field for each particle coupled to a continuum phase such as fluid flow or solid structures. Contrary to a continuum mechanics concept, XDEM aims at resolving the particulate phase through the various processes attached to particles, while DEM predicts the special-temporal position and orientation for each particle; XDEM additionally estimates properties such as the internal temperature and/or species distribution. These predictive capabilities are further extended by an interaction to fluid flow by heat, mass and momentum transfer and impact of particles on structures. These superior features as compared to traditional and pure continuum mechanic approaches are highlighted by predicted examples of relevant engineering applications. [less ▲]

Discrete Element Modeling of Inter-Granular Bonds between Snow Grains

in PARTEC - International Congress on Particle Technology (2013, April)

The mechanical behaviour of snow was long studied to help predict natural hazards, like avalanches. For those predictions the behaviour of snow deforming at low strain rates is of importance. On the other ... [more ▼]

The mechanical behaviour of snow was long studied to help predict natural hazards, like avalanches. For those predictions the behaviour of snow deforming at low strain rates is of importance. On the other hand, a large group of industrial applications concerning trafficability and transportation safety also benefit from the understanding of snow physics. These applications requiring an understanding of the high strain rate behaviour of snow. The material behaviour of snow is based on its micro-structure. The micro-structure consists of ice grains connected by ice bonds building up an open-foam like structure. The macroscopic response of a snow pack to loading is determined by the deformation and failure of its bonds and the inter-granular friction whiles rearrangement of the grains. The work reported here proposes an inter-granular snow model developed and deployed using a discrete element technique. The goal is to understand the material behaviour of dry snow at high strain rates, from 0.01s^-1 up to 100s^-1. The developed algorithm predicts the displacement of the individual grains due to inter-granular contact and bond forces. The micro-structure of a snow pack is represented by generating an ensemble of explicit geometrical shapes describing the individual ice grains and bonds. The distributions of grain size and position are generated by gravitational deposition and by applying a fractal algorithm. Snow structures of densities from 200 kg/m^3 up to 600 kg/m^3 are generated. The developed inter-granular bond models assume a cylindrical neck between adjoining ice grains. Material properties and constitutive models of the hexagonal single- and poly-crystal Ih ice are used to describe the material behaviour of each individual bond. Simulations of tensile and compression tests have been conducted using samples of 10^3 up to 10^5 grains. Here, results of different parametric studies are reported. Assessed are the dependences of the macroscopic snow behaviour on microstructural properties and mechanical properties on grain-scale. These results are compared to experimental measurements and corresponding finite element simulations. The calculation results enable to identify primary deformation mechanism at the given strain rates. [less ▲]

eXtended Discrete Element Method used for convective heat transfer predictions

in International Review of Mechanical Engineering (2013), 7(2), 329-336

Packed bed reactors dominate a broad range of engineering applications. In a packed bed reactor, heat is transferred from the solid particles to the gas flow stream through the void space between ... [more ▼]

Packed bed reactors dominate a broad range of engineering applications. In a packed bed reactor, heat is transferred from the solid particles to the gas flow stream through the void space between particles. Using a XDEM approach, continuous and discrete phases have been coupled in order to predict convective heat transfer between solid and fluid within packed beds. For the solid matrix a discrete intra-particle model, namely DPM, was used to solve for each particle of the bed, and a CFD tool was employed to resolve the fluid flow. [less ▲]

Application of the Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM) in Computer-Aided Process Engineering

Scientific Conference (2013)