EDEM feature suggestions

Matthias Vink

Dear all, I could not find where else to do this, so I will do it here. After working with EDEM, modelling very flexible meta-particles I would like to share some issues and maybe potential solutions to make the software even more appealing.

 

•  Meta-particles grouping:
  I created 6 different variants of meta-particles, these all required an individual factory to spawn, so if, for example, I wanted 20 of each type instead of 10 I had to individually change all 6 factory parameters.
  • A potential solution would be grouping of meta-particles under a bulk material so only 1 factory is needed and distributions can be specified

 

• Global variables :

I had a series of conveyor belts, many of which had the same speed, or its speed (or timing) depended on the speed of other parts.

• • Introducing global variables would allow for easily changing all conveyors at once without having to do them all individually (and potentially forgetting 1 so the simulation has to be re-run). These variables could also be assigned to factory inputs to allow for changing multiple factory's settings at once.

 

• Contact radius:

This is quite specific but because my meta-particles were so flexible, very often bonds would fail due to particle seperation, but increasing the contact radius would introduce undesired bonding. I worked around it by using 2 different particle types which partially solved the problem (increasing the maximum contact radius from R*sqrt(2) to R*sqrt(3)) but this does not scale well. (damping was also an issue but presumably damping will be introduced to the model in the future)

• • There are multiple ways one could solve this.
    • Add a second contact radius, 1 for bonds initiation and 1 for bond stretch limits, these could be linked by a factor or something but would solve the problem I encountered
    • Add an option to disable bond failure due to particle seperation just like torque feedback can be disabled (the first solution would be preferred to me)

 

•  Meta-particle adhesion

I tried to model some adhesion of my meta-particles (chicken fillets) I used the JKRv2 model as JKR(v1) stated that it was not suitable for particles with a contact radius. But struggled to make it have any real effect, I assume this is also due to the fact that JKR was designed for very small particles.

• • Perhaps I missed it but I would like a model be added that could introduce adhesion at this larger meta-particle scale

 

• Visualisation in EDEM analyst

Colours, I imported a step file of an assembly containing coloured parts, when importing this into EDEM this colour is lost, making it less visually appealing. Colour can be assigned but it has to be done for every component (and there were many).

• • I would like colouring from CAD files to be preserved when importing files.

Moreover, in the EDEM creator, you can click on geometries to select them; this cannot be done in the analyst, and when importing bigger assemblies, all components have (almost) the same name, so searching for a specific component in the analyst is hard. I solved it by clicking on them in the creator tab and then renaming (or grouping) them.

• • Allow for selecting geometries by clicking on them in the 3D view of the Analyst tab

Again very specific but:

• • Allow for making a specific surface of a geometry transparent

 

• Springs and geometry movement

I wanted to model leaf springs and spring-actuated geometries, this can be done by co-simulating with motion-solve but is quite a lengthy process.

• • Add an option to the force controller to return a force that scales with displacement
  • Add an option to the force controller to limit the displacement between upper and lower limits

 

These are just some suggestions from my end to make EDEM even better than it already is. If there are any questions please ask!

 

Kind regards,

Matthias Vink

Stephen Cole

Thanks for the feedback Matthias,

 

We'll review the feedback and highlight to the product team.

Regards

Stephen