Highlights

Keywords Finite element analysis, Simulation, Dynamics

Abstract The discrete element methods (DEM) are numerical techniques that have been specifically developed to enable simulations of systems of multiple distinct, typically infinitely rigid, bodies that interact with each other through contact forces. However, there are multibody systems for which it is useful to consider the deformability of the simulated bodies and enable the evaluation of their stress and strain distributions. This paper focuses on the simulation of deformable multibody systems using a combination of DEM and finite element methods (FEM). In particular, an updated Lagrangian (UL) finite element (FE) formulation and an explicit time integration scheme are used together with some simplifying assumptions to linearize this highly nonlinear contact problem and obtain solutions with realistic computational cost and sufficiently good accuracy. In addition, this paper describes a software implementation of this formulation, which utilizes the Java programming language and the Java3D graphics application programming interface (API), as well as database technology.

1. Introduction

In many physical phenomena and engineering applications there are systems with large number of distinct bodies that undergo large displacements and rotations involving contacts between the bodies of the system. Examples range from particulate granular materials, such as granular soil, to multibody systems,...