EDEM API: Particle Body Force - Particle Growth Cycle

jerrinjobs

Overview

This API allows you to simulate any kind of particle expansion/growth/swelling and shrinkage in EDEM. There is also an example attached that shows the usage of the API.

Usage/Installation Instructions

1. Extract the zip file attached. Copy the 'ParticleGrowthCycle.dll' and 'ParticleGrowthCycleInput.txt' from the 'example' folder to the directory of your EDEM simulation.
2. Add the plugin model in 'Particle Body Force' of the Physics section.
3. You must enter three different values - expansion/shrinkage rate, final scale and start time of the expansion/shrinkage, in the preference file (ParticleGrowthCycleInput.txt).
   Use negative values for shrinkage. Higher the rate, faster the process.
4. You can have multiple lines of the values to indicate different cycles of swelling and shrinkage in your simulation. Note that you can have a maximum of 40 rows only.

All the particles in your simulation will grow/shrink at the rate you specify in the preference file.

Post-Requisite

If you are interested in just the expansion/shrinkage once, and not necessarily the cycle of expansion/shrinkage, you can refer to this API: https://community.altair.com/community/en/edem-api-particle-body-force-particle-growth?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0122138
You will also be able to add different rates for different particles using the linked API.

HoangDinhTrung

Hi

When I opened the example this error showed up:

WARNING : Plugin : Could not load plugin file:
D:/ParticleGrowthCycle/example\ParticleGrowthCycle.dll

May I know what I should do to solve this problem?

jerrinjobs

https://community.altair.com/discussion/comment/190382#Comment_190382

Please use EDEM version 2024.1 or later. Hope that helps.

HoangDinhTrung

https://community.altair.com/discussion/comment/191021#Comment_191021

Hi Jerrinjobs

I have tried using Altair 2024.1 but the error still occurred.
I download the file and open it, without any modification or changing the file location. But the error still occur.
May I know what I should do? I googled my problem, and one post mentioned that I need to recompile the plugin.

Stephen Cole

Hi,

Recompiling often would work, as it may not be loading if you don't have the required pre-requisites on your computer and installing visual studio and compiling resolves this. You can also just install the pre-requsities e.g.

https://community.altair.com/discussion/comment/191016#Comment_191016

It could also be file permissions, you will need to have read/write/execute permissions for the folder containing the .dll.

Regards

Stephen