Touch-aware contact model for peridynamics modeling of granular systems

This article presents an innovative touch-aware frictional contact model for peridynamics to efficiently simulate the contact behavior between irregularly shaped particles. Conventional short-range force contact model formulates the contact force field in such a way that leaves a large gap between particles, leading to a softer stiffness of contact and inaccurate simulation of densely packed granular materials. The developed touch-aware contact model initiates the contact force calculation when contacting bodies are in touch, which leaves no gap between contacting bodies and provides a stiffer contact in an accurate and efficient way. It simulates frictional contact behaviors and damping between contacting bodies with irregular shapes. Different examples are given to verify the touch-aware contact model with theoretical solutions such as Hertz theory of contact, Hertz theory of impact, Coulomb's law and damping formulation. The model is also compared with conventional peridynamics contact model and the discrete element method. Finally, the touch-aware contact model is used to simulate condensation of an aggregate of irregularly shaped particles. These examples demonstrate excellent capacity of the touch-aware model in simulating packed granular systems.

Automated summary

This article presents an innovative touch-aware frictional contact model for efficiently simulating the contact behavior between irregularly shaped particles. The model accurately calculates the contact force and stiffness by initiating the calculation when contacting bodies are in touch, eliminating any gap between them. It also simulates frictional contact behaviors and damping between bodies with irregular shapes.