Validation Tests for Discrete Element Codes Using Single-Contact Systems
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18, Issue 6
Abstract
In recent years, the discrete element method (DEM) has become widely used to solve a number of geological and geophysical problems. The basic idea of this method is to consider rock-soil bodies, in their discontinuous nature, as a set of discrete elements. It is generally recognized that this type of complex model must be validated through comparison with experimental results. Many researchers have addressed this in earlier publications. However, one important aspect has been given little attention, namely, testing the code to ensure that the computer program executes the model specification correctly. This paper describes in detail a DEM program for cohesionless particle vibration and shows four simple simulations used to verify the code. The results of these simulations are compared with PFC (Particle Flow Code 2D) and analytical solutions that are mathematically correct, showing that they have a good consistency. It is concluded that mathematical tests in artificial situations can uncover bugs in programs that appear to be running correctly, even if the programs simulate real experiments reasonably well. The simulation of relative error between numerical solutions and analytical solutions increases as artificial viscosity is introduced. These tests are published with the aim of helping others validate their programs (such as PFC) in similar applications.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 41272227, 41572187), National S&T Major Project of China (Grants 2016ZX05026-002-007, 2016ZX05003-001, 2016ZX005008-001-005), and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program Grant 2012CB214703). Changsheng Li is supported by the Program B for Outstanding Ph.D. Candidate of Nanjing University. The authors thank Prof. Julia Morgan for generously sharing her discrete element code RICEBAL (v. 5.4, modified from Peter Cundall’s TRUBAL v. 1.51). Hongwei Yin would also like to thank Prof. Morgan and Rice University for hosting his collaborative visit in 2009, providing him with the opportunity to further develop his knowledge of DEM and geomechanics principles and to learn the capabilities of these methods. Many thanks to Prof. Huiqun Zhou, Prof. Chun Liu, and Dr. Qian Huang for their discussions on the development of VBOX. The relevant data and MATLAB and PFC codes used in this paper are available online: http://www.geovbox.com; more examples are given on the website. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their many valuable suggestions that notably improved the manuscript.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 18 • Issue 6 • June 2018
Copyright
© 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 14, 2017
Accepted: Nov 3, 2017
Published online: Mar 29, 2018
Published in print: Jun 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Aug 29, 2018
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