G-DEMPack manual
This manual explains how to run a DEM simulation with D-DEMPack on GiD.
Contents |
Loading D-DEMPack
If you did not install GiD or D-DEMPack yet, follow the installation instructions here: D-DEMPack installation
Once you have finished the installation, open GiD and load the D-DEMPack Problemtype by clicking:
Data -> D-DEMPack
Note that a toolbar with 7 buttons has been added to the left side of the GiD working window. This toolbar is called "Model definition toolbar" and can be hidden and shown through the GiD utilities:
Utilities -> Tools -> Toolbars
The buttons in the Model definition toolbar do the following actions:
Button 1 - Link to the GiD Groups Management Window
Button 2 - Model Definition Menu
Button 3 - Materials Menu
Button 4 - Running Processes Management Window
Button 5 - Run this case
Button 6 - Show information about how this case is running
Button 7 - Stop this case
The GiD philosophy
GiD is a Pre and Post Processor, it is not an actual CAD tool. However, it can be used to draw geometries and mesh them. For complicated geometries, we recommend using a CAD tool and importing them into GiD for meshing (or import mesh and apply conditions directly). In case of drawing geometries with GiD, one must be aware that it uses a Hierarchical Structure: Volumes are created with a set of watertight Surfaces, Surfaces are created with a set of watertight Lines and Lines are created starting and ending in Points. If there are no Points, a Line cannot be created, and the same dependence holds for all levels. For more information about how to use GiD, visit GiD's home page or follow some tutorials
The Kratos philosophy
The way Kratos applies materials and conditions to the geometry or the mesh is using the Groups. A Group is a set of entities (either in Geometry or in Mesh). A Group can contain any Volume, Surface, Line, Point, Element or Node, no matter whether it is already belonging to other Groups.
The D-DEMPack philosophy
Since DEMPack is based in Kratos and programmed for GiD, it inherits the philosophy of both. The Groups will be the essential tool for assigning materials and conditions.
OPTION 1: Use the Groups Management Window to create Groups and move entities into the corresponding Groups. Go to the Model Definition Tree, fill in all the fields and assign conditions to existing Groups (the ones you just created).
OPTION 2: Fill in all the fields of the Model Definition Tree and when asked for any Group to assign the condition to, use the button for automatic creation of Groups (included in the mini window for condition assignation)
Model Definition Tree
The Model Definition Tree contains all the options that must be filled in order to run a DEM computation.
DEM General Options
Bounding Box
Bounding Box:
Bounding Box type:
Max X: Max corner X coordinate
Max Y: Max corner Y coordinate
Max Z: Max corner Z coordinate
Min X: Min corner X coordinate
Min Y: Min corner Y coordinate
Min Z: Min corner Z coordinate
Physical Options
Gravity value:
Gx:
Gy:
Gz:
Advanced Options
Clean initial indentations:
Virtual mass coefficient:
Rolling friction:
Solution Strategy
Parallel Type
Parallel type: locked to OpenMP (MPI will be available in the future)
Number of threads: set the number of threads you want to use for this computation. Do not choose more than the available threads on your computer or the computation will be slower.
Time parameters
Delta time:
Total time:
Screen info output:
Neighbour search frequency:
Elements
DEM element: double click on this item and a Mini Window will open. Choose an existing Material and assign it to an existing Group (or create the Group on-the-go)
Boundary conditions
Prescribed velocitites It allows the imposition of velocities to sets of DEM elements. Double click on this item and a Mini Window will open. It will impose initial velocities or fixed velocities for all time to the Groups of spheres you choose.
Inlet It allows the insertion of new DEM elements into the domain. Double click on this item and a Mini Window will open. Every Mesh Node will insert Elements. Mesh Nodes come usually from the meshing of Points, Lines, Surfaces(recommended) or Volumes. Assign this condition to a Group containing a Surface and the inner and boundary Nodes of this Surface will be generating new DEM elements with the parameters chosen.
DEM-FEM wall It marks a Surface as a Rigid Body which cannot be crossed by the DEM elements. Double click on this item and a Mini Window will open. Choose the options and assign it to a Group containg Surfaces (avoid Groups containing Spheres)
Results
Output time step: Specify the time increment between prints. Every print will write down the necessary files to see the results on the Post-Process of GiD.
Print in Post-process
From all the options, choose those that you want to see in Post-process. Keep in mind that activating some of these options can slow down the computation noticeably, by adding function calls and allocating extra memory.
Graphs
Force evolution with time: Choose Yes to activate it. It will print a file with the Integral of Forces and Torques on the whole chosen Group.
Printing delta time: Choose the time increment between prints of this type of graphs
Force integration group: Double click on this item and a Mini Window will open. Choose what Groups where you want to integrate the Forces and Torques.
Velocity Trap
Creates a Box in which measurements are done: average velocity, entering flux of particles, entering flux of mass.
Active velocity trap: choose Active to activate it.
Max X: Max corner X coordinate
Max Y: Max corner Y coordinate
Max Z: Max corner Z coordinate
Min X: Min corner X coordinate
Min Y: Min corner Y coordinate
Min Z: Min corner Z coordinate
Options
Result format: Choose Binary or Ascii. Ascii takes more hard disk space, but is human readable.
Result file: Choose whether you want a Single file for all time steps or Multiple files (one for each time step). If an Inlet is present, Single option will not be able to print the results for the inserted DEM elements.
