Title: LIGGGHTS and CFDEMcoupling - Modelling of macroscopic particle processes based on LAMMPS technology

Presenter: Christoph Kloss

Affiliation: Johannes Kepler University Linz

Abstract: In February 2010, the development of the open source DEM code LIGGGHTS (which is based on the LAMMPS code) and the open source CFD-DEM code CFDEMcoupling (which is based on the OpenFOAM(R) toolbox) started, with the aim to develop adequate modelling capabilities for processes involving production, handling, storage, transport and processing of powders and granular materials. These processes are paramount in all sectors of industry as more than 50% of all products sold are either granular themselves or involve granular materials in their production. Furthermore, estimates indicate that between 1% and 10% of the total world energy are being used just for particle processes like crushing, milling, and grinding.

We give an overview of recent developments in the frame of the LIGGGHTS and CFDEMcoupling codes. In particular, we summarize recent implementations of models for cohesive forces, liquid bridge forces, multi-sphere particles, particle-particle liquid film transfer, conductive and radiative heat transfer, erosive wear on equipment, pressure-controlled walls, wall mesh motion models, particle coarse-graining, and smoothed particle hydrodynamics. We also give an overview of models for fluid-particle interaction, which comprise models for drag and pressure forces, droplet-particle collisions, an implementation of an immersed boundary method and a model for dust emission and transport. On a more general level, we also summarize parallelization, code efficiency, code maintainability (by means of templated C++ container classes enhanced by MPI functionality) and code quality assurance improvement efforts.

As all of these developments were triggered by the need to model industrial or environmental processes, we present these models in the context of their application. These applications include river bed erosion as well as processes in the iron- and steel-making, consumer goods, process, powder metallurgy, mining, refractories production, agricultural machinery, construction, chemical and plastics production industries.