Volume for triangle edge-polyhedron contact

Question

Hi,

I am looking to develop a custom GPU contact model for polyhedra. I need to handle particle-triangle contacts differently to particle-particle ones.

I am interested particularly in the overlap volume EDEM produces for a polyhedral particle falling onto an edge (where it's velocity is in-plane with the triangle). In this event, as I understand the overlap volume should be 0 (triangle is 2D).

It would help me to trust my models outputs if I understood how EDEM provides a contact volume for this contact type.

Thank you in advance.

JensenL · Answer

Screenshot 2026-05-27 073713.png

Hi Stephen, thank you very much for your answer. I am still confused about one particular case where the particle collides edge-first, which I have encountered in my trial simulations. I have seen values that I am not sure are correct. Please see the image I have attached. Is the highlighted overlap volume and overlap shown what EDEM returns in this case? If so, I will need to modify my formulation to suit.

Stephen Cole · Answer

Hi, in this case the triangle is extruded downwards away from the particle and the overlap volume is the volume of the overlap region between the polyhedral and the triangular prism.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Stephen