Method and apparatus for simulation by discrete element modeling and supporting customisable particle properties

A computer-implemented simulation system for discrete element modeling, said system comprising:

• a plurality of discrete elements, wherein each discrete element representing a separate, physical particle, and each discrete element stores a predefined set of properties specifying physical parameters of the particle represented by the discrete element;
• and
• an interface in a computer for receiving at least one behaviour model for applying to the particles, the at least one behaviour model governing the interactions of a particle with other particles or with its environment, said interface supporting receipt from the at least one behaviour model of one or more user-defined properties to be assigned tothe particles to supplement the predefined set of properties, wherein the one or more user-defined properties specify physical parameters used by the at least one behaviour model for determining particle interactions;
• wherein said system is responsive to receipt of said one or more user-defined properties to add said one or more user-defined properties to said discrete elements so that each discrete element stores both the predefined set of properties and the one or more user-defined properties for the particles;
• and
• wherein said system is operable to perform a simulation of a flow of particles using discrete element modeling, said simulation including:
• passing values for user-defined properties of the particles in the simulation to said at least one behaviour model;
• applying the at least one behaviour model to the particles, including utilising the user-defined properties for determining particle interactions;
• and
• updating the values of the predefined and user-defined properties stored in the particles based on the particle interactions determined by the at least one behaviour model.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions for execution by one or more computers to implement a simulation method for discrete element modeling, said method comprising:

• providing a plurality of discrete elements, wherein each discrete element represents a separate, physical particle, and each each discrete element stores a predefined set of properties specifying physical parameters of the particle represented by the discrete element;
• receiving at least one behaviour model for applying to the particles, the at least one behaviour model governing the interactions of a particle with other particles or with its environment, the at least one behaviour model including one or more user-defined properties to be assigned to the particles to supplement the predefined set of properties, wherein the one or more user-defined properties specify physical parameters used by the at least one behaviour model for determining particle interactions;
• in response to receipt of said one or more user-defined properties, adding said one or more user-defined properties to said discrete elements so that each discrete element stores both the predefined set of properties and the one or more user-defined properties;
• and
• performing a simulation of a flow of said particles using discrete element modeling, said simulation including:
• passing values for user-defined properties of the particles in the simulation to said at least one behaviour model;
• applying the at least one behaviour model to the particles, including utilising the user-defined properties for determining particle interactions;
• and
• updating the values of the predefined and user-defined properties stored in the particles based on the particle interactions determined by the at least one behaviour model.