Stress results from two-dimensional granular shear flow simulations using various collision models.
Collision resolution is one of the key elements in a discrete element method algorithm for modeling granular flows. Several collision models have been proposed for this process. The hard-particle collision approach is typically used for dilute systems, or for those in which the assumption of binary and instantaneous particle-particle contact remains valid. As the solids fraction increases, however, multiple, enduring collisions can occur and a soft-particle approach is more appropriate for resolving the collision dynamics. In this work, the delineation between dilute and dense systems and the suitability of contact models are explored for a range of solid fractions. Stress results for two-dimensional shear flow simulations are compared using several collision models including an event-driven hard-particle model, a hysteretic spring soft-particle collision model following Walton and Braun [J. Rheol. 30, 949 (1986)], and a hybrid hard-particle-with-overlap model following Hopkins and Louge [Phys. Fluids A 3, 47 (1991)]. Results show that stresses are accurately predicted for a range of solids fractions, coefficients of restitution, and friction coefficients by both the hard-particle-with-overlap and soft-particle models so long as a sufficiently large loading stiffness is used for the soft-particle model. Additional results investigating the accuracy of the collision models and the amount of collisional overlap are presented as functions of the simulation time step and model parameters.
Ketterhagen
William R
WR
School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
Curtis
Jennifer S
JS
Wassgren
Carl R
CR