Faster calibration with the EDEM Calibration Kit

Stefan Pantaleev_21979

Originally Published : February 7, 2020

Numerical modeling is an important engineering tool for predicting and understanding the behavior of physical systems without the need for experiments. However, numerical models are only useful if they are accurate in their predictions and one of the major challenges that a CAE engineer faces is ensuring the accuracy of their models.

DEM material models prove particularly challenging in this respect, because the physical measurement of the micro-mechanical parameters used to describe the contact forces between bulk solid particles is difficult and often even impossible. This leads to the need for an indirect method of obtaining the appropriate input parameters values. A macro-mechanical calibration approach is typically employed for this purpose. It involves the use of a measurement from a material characterization test as a benchmark for the calibration of the input parameters [1]. Figure 1 illustrates the method.

Figure 1: DEM calibration methodology by the macro-mechanical approach. Images: a), c) and e) from Pantaleev et. al., 2017. Image b) from www.freemantech.co.uk

Although the macro-mechanical approach is the most practical option, it still requires the modeling of the material characterization test, the generation of a large number of DEM simulations with varying input parameters and the subsequent extraction and manipulation of simulation data to obtain the responses of interest.

This is where the EDEM Calibration Kit comes in. It is a collection of EDEM simulations of standard bulk solids characterization instruments and associated EDEMpy post-processing scripts that can be used to automate a large portion of the EDEM material model calibration workflow shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: EDEM material model calibration workflow

The calibration kit removes the need for modeling standard characterization tests and automates the process of obtaining the relevant simulation data, leading to a significant reduction in the engineering time requirement for the EDEM material model calibration. The included EDEMpy post-processing scripts provide a simple and automated way of generating individual simulation reports, similar to the ones generated by the physical test, as well as a single collated report of key results from all simulation runs. The use of the kit is demonstrated in the following video:

The EDEM Calibration Kit is constantly expanding and the following standard bulk solids characterization tests are currently included:

• Uniaxial Compression Test
• FT4 Powder Rheometer Flow Energy Test
• Schulze RST XS Shear Cell
• Brookfield PFT Shear Cell
• Static Angle of Repose Test
• Rotating Drum Test
• Inclined Plane Test

The EDEM Calibration Kit is now available directly from the EDEM installation folder in version 2020.1 and higher.

References:
[1] Coetzee, C. J. (2017). Review: Calibration of the discrete element method. Powder Technology, 310, 104–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2017.01.015
[2] Pantaleev, S., Yordanova, S., Janda, A., Marigo, M., & Ooi, J. Y. (2017). An experimentally validated DEM study of powder mixing in a paddle blade mixer. Powder Technology, 311, 287–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2016.12.053

Anas Almudahka

Where can this tool kit be found? I have EDEM 2022 ver. and EDEM/Altair file only contains the "Tools" folder which contains the "license document"  

jerrinjobs

Anas Almudahka said:

Where can this tool kit be found? I have EDEM 2022 ver. and EDEM/Altair file only contains the "Tools" folder which contains the "license document"  

Hi Anas,

You can find the calibration toolkit in <EDEM_INSTALLATION_FOLDER>/examples/Calibration Kits.

Tony Arthur

The analyst script for both the dynamic and static repose angle test does not work please. Is there any chance if you could update it.

Please

Thanks

Tony

Stefan Pantaleev_21979

Tony Arthur said:

The analyst script for both the dynamic and static repose angle test does not work please. Is there any chance if you could update it.

Please

Thanks

Tony

Hi Tony and Anas,

Thank you for getting in touch with these questions.

You can find the latest version of the EDEM calibration kits uploaded here.

These are compatible with EDEMpy 2.0 and EDEM 2022.2.

Best regards,

Stefan

Stephen Cole

The latest Calibration Kits can be found here:

EDEM Calibration Kits

 

karl_chao1226

Is there any chance that i could get videos about guiding how to use this calibration toolkit?

Please

Thanks

chao chen