Simulation of Particle Flow and Discrete Element

Dear Colleagues,

The behaviour and interaction of particles play a crucial role in a wide range of natural phenomena and engineering applications, including bulk material handling, geotechnical engineering, additive manufacturing, mining, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural processing. With continuous progress in computational capabilities and numerical methods, particle-based simulations—particularly the Discrete Element Method (DEM)—have become powerful tools for gaining insights into complex particulate systems.

As the demand for more accurate, efficient, and predictive models grows, researchers are increasingly combining DEM with other approaches, such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Method (FEM), and machine learning techniques, to simulate multiphysics interactions and large-scale systems with greater fidelity.

This Special Issue on “Simulation of Particle Flow and Discrete Element” invites high-quality contributions that present novel methodologies, advanced simulations, and innovative applications related to particle flow and DEM-based techniques. We aim to bring together research that enhances understanding, modelling accuracy, and computational efficiency in particle-laden systems.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Theoretical development and improvement of DEM and particle-based models;
• Coupled simulations of particle systems with fluid (CFD–DEM), structures (FEM–DEM, MBD-DEM), or thermal fields;
• Calibration, validation, and uncertainty quantification in particle flow simulations;
• Large-scale and high-performance computing for particle simulations;
• Novel applications of DEM in industrial processes, civil engineering, mining, agriculture, etc.
• Particle flow behaviour under complex boundary conditions or external fields (e.g., magnetic, electric, thermal);
• Machine learning and data-driven approaches in particle simulation and analysis.

Dr. Jakub Hlosta
Dr. Weronika Kruszelnicka
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• discrete element method (DEM)
• particle flow simulation
• multiphysics coupling
• computational modelling
• granular materials
• optimization design
• machine learning in simulation
• mechanical and functional engineering