Sensitivity analysis of the dynamics of fine and ultrafine particles using DEM

Abstract In this paper, we focus on particle–particle and particle–wall interactions considering tiny particle dimensions and the processes and phenomena arising from the contact dynamics. This has the important implication that the discrete element method can be used for large-scale computations as well as for tiny particles, i.e. particles with fine and ultrafine dimensions. Particular attention is paid to the granular cohesion dynamics where the particles interact prior to their physical stick. We investigate the sensitivity of the interactions, i.e. we assess how particle size distribution, frictional forms of particle–particle and particle–wall collisions and Van der Waals or liquid cohesive forces shape the particle motions. Through computations, we show how neglecting the above features influences computations of particle positions and particle linear and angular velocities over time.