An efficient contact algorithm for the interaction of material particles with finite elements

Improving the 3D Finite-Discrete Element Method and Its Application in the Simulation of Wheel–Sand Interactions

International Journal of Computational Methods ◽

10.1142/s0219876218500597 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (07) ◽

pp. 1850059 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Chunlai Zhao ◽

Mengyan Zang ◽

Shunhua Chen ◽

Zumei Zheng

Keyword(s):

Finite Elements ◽

Discrete Element Method ◽

Size Distribution ◽

Sphere Packing ◽

Discrete Element ◽

Numerical Results ◽

Contact Detection ◽

Discrete Elements ◽

Contact Algorithm ◽

Packing Algorithm

An efficient sphere-packing algorithm named hierarchical generation method (HGM) is developed. The method is capable of efficiently generating spheres with a specific size distribution in a given geometric domain. Moreover, an improved contact algorithm for contact detection between spherical discrete elements and hexahedron finite elements (INTS) is presented. The algorithm is also suitable for simulating complex wheel–sand interactions. By using the developed algorithm, the running behaviors of a chevron tread-pattern wheel on a sand bed are simulated. The sand bed model is established by HGM and wheel–sand interactions are simulated using INTS. Numerical results validate the feasibility of the proposed method in the simulation of wheel–sand interactions.

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Ricochet Characteristics of AUVs during Small-Angle Water Entry Process

Mathematical Problems in Engineering ◽

10.1155/2019/9518437 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Guo-Xin Yan ◽

Guang Pan ◽

Yao Shi

Keyword(s):

Finite Elements ◽

Small Angle ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle ◽

Initial Conditions ◽

Water Entry ◽

Critical Conditions ◽

Contact Algorithm ◽

Particle Hydrodynamics ◽

Sph Algorithm

When the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) enters the water at a small angle, the head of the AUV will be subjected to a torque that causes it to rise, which may cause the AUV to ricochet. The occurrence of ricochet will have an important impact on the trajectory stability of the AUV. In this paper, the finite element method-smoothed particle hydrodynamics (FEM-SPH) coupling algorithm, which absorbs the high efficiency of FEM and the advantages of SPH in dealing with large deformation and meshes distortion, is used to study the small-angle water entry problem of the AUV numerically. In the coupled FEM-SPH algorithm, discrete particles were used to model the zone of water, while the part of the AUV was modeled with finite elements. A contact algorithm couples the finite elements and the particles. Particular attention was paid to the influence of different head hemisphere angles and different initial conditions on the ricochet trajectory of the AUV. The critical conditions and influencing factors of the AUV ricochet phenomenon were given.

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