Granular Material Simulation With Energy-Based Coarse-View Particles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing discrete element method calculations for analyzing the behavior of granular materials face significant computational challenges when dealing with large numbers of particles, making it difficult to simulate behaviors in industrial settings like factories.

Innovation Solution

A simulation device and method that coarsely views a group of particles as a single particle, using a characteristic equation to determine parameters for the coarse-view particle, reducing the number of particles needed for analysis while maintaining accuracy through the calculation of parameters like thermal conductivity and elastic energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If discrete element method calculation is used to analyze granular material behavior, then analysis accuracy is improved, but calculation load increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis accuracyVSAvoidcalculation load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple particles are merged into a single coarse-view particle that represents the collective behavior of the particle group. This merging reduces the number of individual particle calculations while maintaining the ability to analyze granular material behavior through the representative coarse-view particle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters used in calculation by introducing a coarse-view coefficient and deriving equivalent parameters for the coarse-view particle based on the particle group's properties. This parameter transformation enables accurate analysis with reduced computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If the number of particles to be handled increases, then analysis coverage is improved, but calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of particlesVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Particles are grouped and merged into coarse-view particles, reducing the total number of entities to be calculated. This merging approach maintains analysis coverage for large quantities of particles while simplifying the calculation by treating groups as single representative units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The granular material is segmented into multiple particle groups, each represented by a coarse-view particle. This segmentation allows the system to handle large numbers of particles by dividing them into manageable groups that can be processed more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If coarse-view method is used to reduce calculation load, then productivity is improved, but parameter selection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation efficiencyVSAvoidparameter selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines appropriate parameters for coarse-view particles by calculating them based on the properties of the constituent particles and the coarse-view coefficient. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual parameter selection and reduces the complexity associated with parameter choice.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention establishes a feedback mechanism where parameters for coarse-view particles are derived from the particle group properties through calculated relationships. This feedback loop ensures that parameters are appropriately selected based on the actual particle characteristics rather than requiring external expert knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4160184B1Simulation device, simulation method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO LTD
  • EP4160184B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4160184B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4160184B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A simulation device for analyzing behavior of a granular material that includes a plurality of particles includes a first parameter acquisition unit that acquires a first parameter including a parameter relating to the granular material, a second parameter calculation unit that calculates a second parameter, when a particle group including the plurality of particles is coarsely viewed as a single coarse-view particle, the second parameter relating to the coarse-view particle, and a coarse-view particle behavior analysis unit that analyzes a behavior of the coarse-view particle based on the first parameter and the second parameter. The second parameter calculation unit calculates the second parameter by using a solution of a characteristic equation using a relationship between an elastic energy of the particle group and an elastic energy of the coarse-view particle.