The numerical modelling of excavator bucket filling using DEM

The filling of an excavator bucket is a complex granular flow problem. In order to optimize the filling process, it is important to understand the different mechanisms involved. The discrete element method (DEM) is a promising approach to model soil-implement interactions and it was used in this study to model the filling process of an excavator bucket. Model validation was based on the accuracy with which the model predicted the bucket drag force and the development of the different flow regions. Compared to experimental measurements, DEM predicted lower bucket drag forces, but the general trend was accurately modelled. At the end of the filling process the error in predicted drag force was 20%. Qualitatively, there was a good agreement between the observed and the modelled flow regions in terms of position and transition from one stage to the other. During all stages of filling, DEM was able to predict the volume of material inside the bucket accurately to within ±6%.     

滑移爆轰问题无网格MPM法数值模拟

利用MPM(material point method)计算方法,以爆炸焊接作为实例,对炸药滑移爆轰过程和金属飞板与基板之间的碰撞变形进行了数值模拟.并将无网格MPM法的数值计算结果与近似解析公式的计算结果进行了比较,二者基本吻合,有力地证明了无网格MPM法在求解爆炸冲击问题中的有效性和健壮性.     

DISCRETE AND CONTINUUM MODELLING OF GRANULAR FLOW

This paper analyses three popular methods simulating granular flow at different time and length scales： discrete element method （DEM）, averaging method and viscous, elastic-plastic continuum model. The theoretical models of these methods and their applications to hopper flows are discussed. It is shown that DEM is an effective method to study the fundamentals of granular flow at a particle or microscopic scale. By use of the continuum approach, granular flow can also be described at a continuum or macroscopic scale. Macroscopic quantities such as velocity and stress can be obtained by use of such computational method as FEM. However, this approach depends on the constitutive relationship of materials and ignores the effect of microscopic structure of granular flow. The combined approach of DEM and averaging method can overcome this problem. The approach takes into account the discrete nature of granular materials and does not require any global assumption and thus allows a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of granular flow. However, it is difficult to adapt this approach to process modelling because of the limited number of particles which can be handled with the present computational capacity, and the difficulty in handling non-spherical particles. Further work is needed to develoo an aoorooriate aooroach to overcome these problems.     

Discrete element parameter calibration and the modelling of dragline bucket filling

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is useful for modelling granular flow. The accuracy of DEM modelling is dependent upon the model parameter values used. Determining these values remains one of the main challenges. In this study a method for determining the parameters of cohesionless granular material is presented. The particle size and density were directly measured and modelled. The particle shapes were modelled using two to four spheres clumped together. The remaining unknown parameter values were determined using confined compression tests and angle of repose tests. This was done by conducting laboratory experiments followed by equivalent numerical experiments and iteratively changing the parameters until the laboratory results were replicated. The modelling results of the confined compression tests were mainly influenced by the particle stiffness. The modelling results of the angle of repose tests were dependent on both the particle stiffness and the particle friction coefficient. From these observations, the confined compression test could be used to determine the particle stiffness and with the stiffness known, the angle of repose test could be used to determine the particle friction coefficient. Usually DEM codes do not solve the equations of motion for so-called walls (non-granular structural elements). However, in this study a dynamic model of a dragline bucket is developed and implemented in a commercial DEM code which allows the dynamics of the walls to be modelled. The DEM modelling of large systems of particles is still a challenge and procedures to simplify and speed up the modelling of dragline bucket filling are presented. Using the calibrated parameters, numerical results of bucket filling are compared to experimental results. The model accurately predicted the orientation of the bucket. The model also accurately predicted the drag force over the first third of the drag, but predicted drag forces too high for the subsequent part of the drag.     

Coupling between finite element method and material point method for problems with extreme deformation

As a Lagrangian meshless method, the material point method (MPM) is suitable for dynamic problems with extreme deformation, but its efficiency and accuracy are not as good as that of the finite element method (FEM) for small deformation problems. Therefore, an algorithm for the coupling of FEM and MPM is proposed to take advantages of both methods. Furthermore, a conversion scheme of elements to particles is developed. Hence, the material domain is firstly discretized by finite elements, and then the distorted elements are automatically converted into MPM particles to avoid element entanglement. The interaction between finite elements and MPM particles is implemented based on the background grid in MPM framework. Numerical results are in good agreement with experimental data and the efficiency of this method is higher than that of both FEM and MPM.     

离散颗粒流动堆积行为离散元模拟及实验研究

工程应用中存在许多颗粒流动堆积问题.首先设计了一系列测量方法,通过大量的实验和统计分析,得到了颗粒的多种物理参数.并以工程中高炉炉顶称量料罐为背景,采用离散元方法模拟不同物理条件下离散颗粒的流动堆积行为,得出料罐内颗粒系统中颗粒之间力的分布不均匀,而且强力链分布主要与料罐的左下壁方向平行.同时,设计并制作了具有多参数调节的离散颗粒料罐实验模型,进行了相应的物理实验,实测结果与数值模拟吻合良好.     

无网格MPM法三维爆炸焊接数值模拟

物质点法MPM(Material Point Method)是无网格方法之一.它是在质点网格法(PIC)基础上发展而来的一种新数值方法,它利用了欧拉法和拉格朗日法两者的优点,计算物质点在冲击载荷下的应力和应交;通过物质点来跟踪材料体的变形和破损,而在整个计算过程中背景网格始终固定不变,避免了重新划分网格.本文应用MPM法计算三维爆炸焊接问题,在爆轰载荷作用下的飞板和基板的金属动态变形过程进行了三维数值模拟,并且对飞板的碰撞点速度和爆轰压力变化进行了计算分析.     

DEM与FEM动态耦合算法研究

离散单元法作为一种有效的数值分析方法,能够模拟脆性材料的裂纹扩展及碎片飞散等破坏特性,但是无法从根本上克服计算效率低下的诟病;传统有限单元法具有计算高效稳定的优点,却难以描述脆性材料冲击破坏过程中连续体向非连续体的转化。本文首先提出一种基于罚函数法的改进型离散单元和有限单元耦合方法,以提高耦合分析精度。在此基础上提出了动态耦合算法:即在初始阶段,模型全部为有限单元,当局部即将发生破坏时,仅使即将发生破坏的有限单元及相邻单元自动转化为离散单元,在离散单元区域研究破坏问题。这种算法充分利用有限单元法计算高效的优点,同时最大限度克服了离散单元法计算效率的不足。最后,通过两个简单算例验证了改进型耦合算法和动态耦合算法的有效性。     

颗粒材料多尺度分析的连接尺度方法

本文提出了耦合细尺度上基于离散颗粒集合体模型的离散单元法（DEM）和粗尺度上基于Cosserat连续体模型的有限元法（FEM）的连接尺度方法（BSM）以研究颗粒材料的力学行为。采用Cosserat连续体模型和FEM模拟的粗尺度域覆盖全域,而采用离散颗粒集合体模型的DEM模拟的细尺度域仅限于需特别关注材料微结构演变和非连续变形行为的局部区域。对这两个区域间的界面提出了适当的界面条件及其实施方案。通过采用适当的连接尺度投影算子,空间离散的粗、细尺度耦合系统多尺度运动方程具有解耦和允许分别求解、因而也允许分别采用不同时间步长对粗、细尺度计算的特点,可极大地提高BSM的计算效率。文中二维地基数值算例结果说明了所陈述方法的可应用性,以及相对基于Cosserat连续体模型的FEM和基于离散颗粒集合体模型的DEM的优越性。      

A Bridging Scale Method for Multi-scale Analysis of Granular Materials

本文提出了耦合细尺度上基于离散颗粒集合体模型的离散单元法（DEM）和粗尺度上基于Cosserat连续体模型的有限元法（FEM）的连接尺度方法（BSM）以研究颗粒材料的力学行为。采用Cosserat连续体模型和FEM模拟的粗尺度域覆盖全域,而采用离散颗粒集合体模型的DEM模拟的细尺度域仅限于需特别关注材料微结构演变和非连续变形行为的局部区域。对这两个区域间的界面提出了适当的界面条件及其实施方案。通过采用适当的连接尺度投影算子,空间离散的粗、细尺度耦合系统多尺度运动方程具有解耦和允许分别求解、因而也允许分别采用不同时间步长对粗、细尺度计算的特点,可极大地提高BSM的计算效率。文中二维地基数值算例结果说明了所陈述方法的可应用性,以及相对基于Cosserat连续体模型的FEM和基于离散颗粒集合体模型的DEM的优越性。     

利用连接尺度方法的颗粒材料破碎数值分析

基于已有的颗粒材料连接尺度方法(BSM)[1-2],发展了在细尺度上采用离散颗粒集合体模型与离散单元法(DEM)并引入了颗粒破碎模型,而在粗尺度上采用Cosserat连续体模型与有限单元法(FEM)的BSM。仅在有限局部区域内采用DEM从细观层次关注颗粒材料破碎现象,而在全域采用储存空间和花费时间较少的FEM,同时在粗细两个尺度采用不同的时间步长。讨论了颗粒材料发生破碎时,颗粒材料结构的承载能力与微结构的演变。数值算例结果说明了所提出可模拟破碎的BSM的可用性和优越性,以及颗粒破碎对颗粒材料微观力学行为的影响。     

离散颗粒集合体-Cosserat连续体模型的连接尺度方法

基于针对分子动力学-Cauchy连续体模型提出的连接尺度方法(BSM)[1,2],发展了耦合细尺度上基于离散颗粒集合体模型的离散单元法(DEM)和粗尺度上基于Cosserat连续体模型的有限元法(FEM)的BSM。仅在有限局部区域内采用DEM以从细观层次模拟非连续破坏现象,而在全域则采用花费计算时间和存储空间较少的FEM。通过连接尺度位移(包括平移和转动)分解,和基于作用于Cosserat连续体有限元节点和颗粒集合体颗粒形心的离散系统虚功原理,得到了具有解耦特征的粗细尺度耦合系统运动方程。讨论和提出了在准静态载荷条件下粗细尺度域的界面条件,以及动态载荷条件下可以有效消除粗细尺度域界面上虚假反射波的非反射界面条件(NRBC)。本文二维数值算例结果说明了所提出的颗粒材料BSM的可应用性和优越性,及所实施界面条件对模拟颗粒材料动力学响应的有效性。     

无网格法研究进展及其应用

从加权残量法的角度出发，系统地总结了现有各种无网格法的基本格式，阐明了无网格法的特点，论述了无网格法的研究进展，给出了无网格法在碰撞、动态裂纹扩展、金属加工成型、流体力学以及其它领域中的应用。     

Diffusion-based coarse graining in hybrid continuum–discrete solvers: Theoretical formulation and a priori tests

Coarse graining is an important ingredient in many multi-scale continuum–discrete solvers such as CFD–DEM (computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method) solvers for dense particle-laden flows. Although CFD–DEM solvers have become a mature technique that is widely used in multiphase flow research and industrial flow simulations, a flexible and easy-to-implement coarse graining algorithm that can work with CFD solvers of arbitrary meshes is still lacking. In this work, we proposed a new coarse graining algorithm for continuum–discrete solvers for dense particle-laden flows based on solving a transient diffusion equation. Via theoretical analysis we demonstrated that the proposed method is equivalent to the statistical kernel method with a Gaussian kernel, but the current method is much more straightforward to implement in CFD–DEM solvers. A priori numerical tests were performed to obtain the solid volume fraction fields based on given particle distributions, the results obtained by using the proposed algorithm were compared with those from other coarse graining methods in the literature (e.g., the particle centroid method, the divided particle volume method, and the two-grid formulation). The numerical tests demonstrated that the proposed coarse graining procedure based on solving diffusion equations is theoretically sound, easy to implement and parallelize in general CFD solvers, and has improved mesh-convergence characteristics compared with existing coarse graining methods. The diffusion-based coarse graining method has been implemented into a CFD–DEM solver, the results of which are presented in a separate work.     

裂缝分析的比例边界有限元与有限元耦合的虚拟结构面模型

比例边界有限元法SBFEM(Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method)是一种半解析数值方法,在裂缝分析特别是强度因子计算上具有相当高的精度。本文提出了一种用于裂缝分析的基于虚拟结构面的SBFEM与常规FEM的耦合分析方法。首先选取裂缝周边一定范围的计算域,并将结构分成不含裂缝区域和含裂缝区域两部分。然后,对不含裂缝区域,采用FEM进行网格离散;对含裂缝区域,采用SBFEM进行网格离散;两者相互独立,在这两个域内,分别采用各自相应的位移模式。最后通过在SBFEM网格的外边界设置虚拟耦合结构面的模式,实现有限元网格和比例边界有限元网格的耦合。通过两个经典的含裂缝平板的算例研究,探讨了本文方法在I型开裂和混合型开裂分析中,影响应力强度因子精度的因素。算例表明,SBFEM具有的降维和半解析性质,使本文方法在裂缝分析中的前处理简单易行,且计算结果具有相当高的计算精度。     

利用无网格伽辽金法分析材料稳态蠕变问题

稳态蠕变是高温环境下材料的一个重要的考虑问题,它也是材料破坏的一种重要形式。由于存在划分网格,利用传统有限元法模拟稳态蠕变有一定的不足之处。作为一种新兴的数值模拟方法,无网格法不需要划分单元,只需将求解问题离散成独立的结点,计算过程可以局部细化。利用连续介质的虚功原理,将无网格伽辽金法应用于稳态蠕变的数值模拟,推导了稳态蠕变的无网格伽辽金法控制方程。利用罚参数来实现稳态蠕变的不可压缩条件和本质边界条件,能够保证求解过程中刚度矩阵的对称正定性。通过实例的计算结果表明,无网格伽辽金法在求解稳态蠕变时具有较高的计算精度,结果与理论解结果吻合,而且前后处理较为简单。     

大变形问题分析的局部Petrov-Galerkin法

在微机电系统(MEMS)的建模和模拟研究中,大变形或大移动要充分予以考虑.用有限元法分析这类问题,由于难以避免的网格畸变,使模拟效率精度降低甚至失效,无网格方法(Meshless Method)则能在分析这类问题时显示出明显的优势,无网格局部Petrov-Galerkin(MLPG)法被誉为是一种有发展前景的真正无网格法.本文进一步发展了MLPG法,通过对任意的离散分布节点采用局部径向基函数构造插值形函数和Heaviside权函数,分析方程采用局部加权弱形式离散,建立了变量仅依赖于初始构型的完全Lagrange分析格式,最后用Newton-Raphson法迭代求解.文中分析了悬臂梁典型算例和微机电开关非线性大变形问题,通过与有限元结果的比较,表明本文提出的大变形问题无网格局部Petrov-Galerkin法具有稳定性好及收敛性快等优点.     

A new general-purpose least-squares finite element model for steady incompressible low-viscosity laminar flow using isoparametric C1-continuous Hermite elements

This paper deals with a critical evaluation of various finite element models for low-viscosity laminar incompressible flow in geometrically complex domains. These models use Galerkin weighted residuals UVP, continuous penalty, discrete penalty and least-squares procedures. The model evaluations are based on the use of appropriate tensor product Lagrange and simplex quadratic triangular elements and a newly developed isoparametric Hermite element. All of the described models produce very accurate results for horizontal flows. In vertical flow domains, however, two different cases can be recognized. Downward flows, i.e. when the gravitational force is in the direction of the flow, usually do not present any special problem. In contrast, laminar flow of low-viscosity Newtonian fluids where the gravitational force is acting in the direction opposite to the flow presents a difficult case. We show that only by using the least-squares method in conjunction with C¹-continuous Hermite elements can this type of laminar flow be modelled accurately. The problem of smooth isoparametric mapping of C¹ Hermite elements, which is necessary in dealing with geometrically complicated domains, is tackled by means of an auxiliary optimization procedure. We conclude that the least-squares method in combination with isoparmetric Hermite elements offers a new general-purpose modelling technique which can accurately simulate all types of low-viscosity incompressible laminar flow in complex domains.     

自然单元法研究进展

自然单元法是一种基于Voronoi图和Delaunay三角化几何结构,以自然邻点插值为试函数的一种新型数值方法.其既具有无网格方法和经典有限元方法的优点,又克服了两者的一些缺陷,是一种发展前景广阔的求解微分方程的数值方法.自然单元法的形函数满足插值性质,可以像有限元法一样直接施加本质边界条件,不存在基于移动最小二乘拟合的无网格方法不能直接施加本质边界条件的难题.由于自然单元法是无网格方法,可以方便处理有限元方法较难处理的一些问题,例如移动边界和大变形等问题.自然单元法与其他数值方法的最根本区别于其插值格式的不同.将自然邻点插值用于Galerkin过程,就得到基于Voronoi结构的自然单元Galerkin法.自然邻点插值有自然邻点Sibson插值和Laplace插值(非Sibson插值)两种.Laplace插值比Sibson插值在计算上要简单的多,并且不论对凸的或非凸的区域都能精确施加本质边界条件.以Laplace插值为试函数的自然单元法在数值实施上比以Sibson插值为试函数的自然单元法简单.本文对基于Voronoi结构的自然邻点插值和自然单元法的基本思想作了介绍,综述了国内外关于自然单元法的研究成果,总结了自然单元法的优点和尚需解决的问题.      

Computational multiscale methods for granular materials

The fine-scale heterogeneity of granular material is characterized by its polydisperse microstructure with randomness and no periodicity. To predict the mechanical response of the material as the microstructure evolves, it is demonstrated to develop computational multiscale methods using discrete particle assembly-Cosserat continuum modeling in micro- and macro- scales, respectively. The computational homogenization method and the bridge scale method along the concurrent scale linking approach are briefly introduced. Based on the weak form of the Hu-Washizu variational principle, the mixed finite element procedure of gradient Cosserat continuum in the frame of the second-order homogenization scheme is developed. The meso-mechanically informed anisotropic damage of effective Cosserat continuum is characterized and identified and the microscopic mechanisms of macroscopic damage phenomenon are revealed.