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Consultation on Unidirectional Coupling between EDEM and Optistruct

I now see in the forum that in EDEM unidirectional coupling, EDEM obtains the force on the material and then uses finite element to perform static structural analysis. So, I want to obtain the stress changes of the material on the equipment over time, that is, to perform transient calculations. Is the method of exporting data from EDEM the same as the static unidirectional coupling setting, and only Optistruct switches to explicit calculation?

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Accepted answers

Stephen Cole

Hi,

In that case you can use the 'export to Hypermesh or simsolid format if it's just a static load required:

https://community.altair.com/discussion/39445/edem-simsolid-tutorial

https://community.altair.com/discussion/39728/edem-hypermesh-tutorial-export-edem-data-for-fea-analysis-of-dump-truck

PrasadAvilala

Hi Jin,

Unlike EDEM-CFD coupling, there is no uni-directional coupling available between EDEM and FEA. Applying dynamic loading directly from EDEM results is either highly complex or nearly infeasible. As you are aware, EDEM provides elemental forces, and mapping each of these forces over time is a complicated process.

To make the data usable, a procedure must be developed to convert elemental forces into equivalent nodal forces. While this approach allows further analysis, it often involves a compromise in accuracy.

Instead, I recommend considering a two-way coupling between EDEM and FEA. Please refer to the following link for more information:

https://community.altair.com/discussion/62937/optimizing-bulk-material-handling-through-edem-optistruct-two-way-coupling

Thanks,

Prasad A

All comments

Stephen Cole

Hi,

For stress changes over time you can review EDEM-OptiStruct 2-way coupling.

For starting with EDEM-OS the link below outlines the methodology:

https://community.altair.com/discussion/62937/optimizing-bulk-material-handling-through-edem-optistruct-two-way-coupling

Regards

Stephen

Jin1

hello， I don't actually want to perform 2-way coupling, because I only want to obtain the force that the particles exerts on the static structure over time, and then obtain the stress of the equipment over time. And i do not care about the changes brought by structural deformation to the particles. For example, for a particle, I want to obtain the load of the silo during the filling process, without caring about the changes in the particles caused by the deformation of the silo.

Stephen Cole

Hi,

In that case you can use the 'export to Hypermesh or simsolid format if it's just a static load required:

https://community.altair.com/discussion/39445/edem-simsolid-tutorial

https://community.altair.com/discussion/39728/edem-hypermesh-tutorial-export-edem-data-for-fea-analysis-of-dump-truck

Jin1

I have done all these cases. No, what I mean is not static load, but unidirectional coupling of dynamic load

PrasadAvilala

Hi Jin,

Instead, I recommend considering a two-way coupling between EDEM and FEA. Please refer to the following link for more information:

https://community.altair.com/discussion/62937/optimizing-bulk-material-handling-through-edem-optistruct-two-way-coupling

Thanks,

Prasad A

Jin1

Thank you, but I still want to mention that this feature has been implemented in DEM software from other companies. I think EDEM should also have this feature. Well, I was overthinking it

PrasadAvilala

Hi Jin,

Will pass your requirement to product team but with structures.

I have noticed several limitations with uni-directional coupling of DEM-FEA. I would recommend reviewing the two-way coupling documentation, particularly how EDEM and OptiStruct exchange data. This will help clarify the constraints associated with uni-directional coupling.

For example, in a dump truck unloading scenario, both the particles and the geometry are in motion. Uni-directional coupling does not fulfill the necessary requirements in such cases, as it cannot capture the mutual interaction between particles and structural components.

In contrast, uni-directional coupling with CFD can be a reasonable approximation under the assumption that fluid behavior is not significantly affected by particle interactions, while the particles or solids are influenced by the fluid (e.g., through fluid resistance). However, this kind of assumption does not translate well to structural simulations, where displacements are time-dependent and directly influence other variables.

hope this clarification is helpful. Please let me know if you need further details.

Thanks,

Prasad A