Numerical modeling of granular/particulate systems by discrete element method

The discrete element method (DEM) enables us to describe the behavior of granular/particulate systems by employing a simple model of micro-mechanical contacts between particles consisting of a spring and a dash-pot coupled with Newton's equation of motion. The DEM is considered superior to other methods because characteristic properties of individual particles can be specified. It is also worth mentioning for DEM that parameters, affecting inter-particle contacts, can be determined from the physical properties of materials such as the Young's modulus, Poisson ratio, frictional coefficient and restitution coefficient, An attempt has been made in this paper to cover an outline of the DEM and its application to the numerical modeling of granular/particulate systems.