Overview

SudoDEM is specifically designed for modeling non-spherical particles using discrete element method (DEM), which inherits a basic framework of an open-source DEM code, YADE. The project aims to develop a robust 2/3D DEM code for convex particles, e.g., polyhedrons, super-ellipsoids, poly-superellipsoids, cylinders and cones. The concave shapes can be constructed by grouping the convex ones with the typical “clump” technique.

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Why SudoDEM

A sound name is the beginning to get things started. The word SudoDEM is coined as a combination of ‘sudo’ and ‘DEM’. The prefix ‘sudo’ is a program for Unix-like computer operating systems that allows users to run programs as the superuser, i.e., ‘super user do’, which here means a powerful and flexible DEM simulator. On the other hand, the pronunciation of ‘sudo’ sounds like ‘pseudo’, implying that SudoDEM does and will consist of features distinguishing from the conventional DEM codes.

SudoDEM is specifically designed for modeling non-spherical particles using discrete element method (DEM), which inherits a basic framework of an open-source DEM code, YADE1. A profound modification was performed on YADE for higher efficiency in modeling non-spherical particles. The project is hosted on ResearchGate with a goal of developing a robust 2/3D DEM code for convex particles, e.g., super-ellipsoids, poly-superellipsoids, cylinders, cones, polyhedrons. In SudoDEM, some general optimization algorithms e.g., Levenberg-Marquardt and Nelder-Mead simplex are adopted for contact detection of superquadric particles. The popular Gilbert-Johnson-Keerthi (GJK) algorithm used in computer graphic simulation is employed for convex and non-convex (under construction) polytopes.

The project of SudoDEM is hosted on an individual website, and the synchronous update can be also found on the Researchgate Page.

The users are appreciated to cite our work as, but not limited to, listed below.

(1) Zhao S., Zhao J. (2019). SudoDEM: an open-source discrete element code for non-spherical particles, in preparation.

(2) Zhao S., Zhao J. (2019). A poly-superellipsoid-based approach on particle morphology for DEM modeling of granular media. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 43(13): 2147–2169.

(3) Zhao S., Evans T. M., Zhou X. (2018). Effects of curvature-related DEM contact model on the macro-and micro-mechanical behaviours of granular soils. Gétechnique, 68(12): 1085–1098.

(4) Zhao S., Zhang N., Zhou X., Zhang L. (2017). Particle shape effects on fabric of granular random packing. Powder technology, 310, 175–186.

Disclaimers

BECAUSE THE CODE IS FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY ‘AS IS’; NOT EVEN FOR MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Acknowledgments

The work was partially supported by the Hong Kong Scholars Program (2018), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (by Project No. 51679207, 51909095), Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (by GRF Project No. 16205418, TBRS Project No. T22-603/15N and CRF Project No. C6012-15G). The following open-source tools but not limited to are acknowledged: Ubuntu, YADE, Python, Boost, Eigen, Voro++, Paraview, Pov-Ray, GIMP, InkScape, Veusz and LaTeX.

  1. https://yade-dev.gitlab.io/trunk/ ↩︎