Using Discrete Element Simulations to Predict the Large By Understanding the Small

Particle flows are ubiquitous in nature (e.g., avalanches, volcanic eruptions, and planetary rings) and are common in processes used by a wide range of industries, such as energy, agriculture, and chemical processing. Despite the prevalence of processes involving particle transport, the behavior of flowing particles is often poorly understood, and improved predictive capabilities are needed. Particle flows tend to be chaotic, and subtleties that occur at small length scales (e.g., a single particle) can significantly impact large-scale flow behavior. As such, empirical tools can be unreliable when extrapolated to new systems, and fundamental modeling approaches will play a key role in developing better design tools that do not rely solely on costly experimentation. This presentation will discuss two applications of discrete element simulations. In the first application, discrete element simulations are used to elucidate heat transfer mechanisms to flowing particles and develop continuum closures suitable for modeling large scale systems. In the second application, discrete element simulations are used to help develop a kinetic theory for complex granular flows with non-spherical particles.