An accurate and efficient tangential force–displacement model for elastic frictional contact in particle-flow simulations

An improved tangential force–displacement (TFD) model for 3-D discrete element simulations of dry particle systems is proposed in this paper. This model is based on the Mindlin and Deresiewicz (1953) theory for elastic frictional contact. Comparisons of the force–displacement (FD) behavior of this model with the Mindlin and Deresiewicz (1953) theory and the Walton and Braun (1986) TFD model are presented. Finite element method validation was also carried out for the proposed TFD model. We implemented this model in a particle simulation code. To validate the computer code, simulations were carried out for a benchmark test of 100 hard spherical particles colliding with a rigid planar surface. We also present the results obtained from the simulation of ellipsoidal particles flowing down a chute, with a bumpy bottom, using a parallelepiped having four periodic lateral boundaries as the simulation domain. Results such as the development of the granular flow velocity, contact force statistics, etc., are presented and discussed.