Discrete Element Method Simulation of Granular Flow and Its Advances

Granular flow problems are very common in many agricultural and industrial areas,but still people don't know the mechanism of granular flow quite well.Nowadays a numerical simulation method which is based on discrete element is applied in simulating and analysing granular flow problems.The research practices indicate this method is a useful implement in granular mechanics analysis.The background of granular flow researches,and the development of the discrete element method are introduced.The kinetic theory model and the friction-plasticity model of granular flow dynamics researches are summarized.The theory of the discrete element method and various models of particle interaction,as well as the applications of the discrete element method in area of powder engineering are briefly described.Finally the main difficulties in granular flow researches and the future research topics in the discrete element method are discussed.