Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Its Engineering Applications
A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Particle Processes".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1475
Special Issue Editor
Interests: granular flow; multiphase flow; heat/mass transfer; process intensification; discrete element method (DEM); computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Granular materials are ubiquitous in a variety of industries. Owing to the discrete nature of their component particles and the dissipative characteristics of particle interactions, granular materials can exhibit intricate flow and mechanical behaviors. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the complex macroscopic dynamic response characteristics and the underlying mechanisms is crucial for the optimal design and safe operation of devices that handle granular materials.
With the rapid advancement of computational capabilities and parallel algorithms, the discrete element method (DEM) has been extensively utilized across a range of industries to explore both fundamental and engineering issues related to granular materials. The strength of DEM lies in its capacity to elucidate the complex macroscopic response of granular assembles from a particle-scale perspective by directly incorporating particle properties. Despite its widespread adoption in both fundamental and engineering research communities, DEM simulations still face challenges, such as computational efficiency, contact force models, and the representation of real particle morphology.
This Special Issue aims to publish original scientific research and review articles devoted to the development of DEM and its application in simulating engineering processes. The list of topics given below provides a summary of this Issue. The list is illustrative, and the contributions are not restricted to these topics:
- Models and algorithms;
- Integration of DEM with other methodologies;
- Rheology of Granular flows;
- Mixing, packing, and transportation of granules.
Prof. Dr. Xiaoxing Liu
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- discrete element method (DEM)
- granular materials
- particle-scale mechanics
- contact force models
- particle morphology
- DEM development
- engineering processes
- multiscale modeling
- granular rheology
- particle mixing
- particle packing
- particle transportation
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