Investigation of efficient geometric shape algorithms for numerical simulation of discrete particle systems

The efficiency of a discrete particle simulation implementation relies on several factors, including the geometric representation, contact resolution, and neighbor-sorting algorithm used. The focus here is on the first two of this list: the geometric representation and the corresponding contact resolution. An argument is developed to advocate the use of geometric representations with inconstant radius based on results of a numerical study of angles of repose for deposited grains. The equivalent spheres method is then developed as a potential cure for the problems arising from constant radius geometric representations. A coherent approach to utilizing this geometry in discrete element modeling is developed. This includes the proposal of an accurate, robust contact resolution algorithm and explicit functions to describe moments of inertia. Considerations for numerical modeling are also addressed, including numerical integration, formulation of rotation transformations, and resolution of forces and motions in the context of rigid body motions. The details of a generalized computational implementation of the representation are also given, and empirical convergence properties are compared with a different method for detecting contact between ellipsoidal approximations.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2003

Author dc:creator

• Johnson, Scott M. (Scott Matthew), 1978-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John R. Williams.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/8037

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/8037