Fourier series-based discrete element method for computational mechanics of irregular-shaped particles

Many natural and engineered granular materials consist mainly of irregular-shaped non-spherical particles. In this work, a novel Fourier series-based Discrete Element Method (FS-DEM) is developed for the computational mechanics of irregular-shaped particles. In FS-DEM, Fourier series-based particle geometric description and coordinate representation are introduced, where particle shapes are implicitly determined by FS coefficients, which remain constant and are independent of particle positions or kinematics. Using the FS-based particle representation, contact detection and resolution algorithms are then developed to identify contacts and resolve contact geometric features. The FS-DEM method is completed with recourse to conventional contact behavior, laws of motion, and movement integration. The accuracy and computational efficiency of the FS-DEM framework are evaluated via three numerical examples and compared with the Overlapping Discrete Element Cluster-based DEM method. Results demonstrate the robust and superior performance of the FS-DEM method and its potential for efficient computational modeling of irregular-shaped particle systems. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.