DEM/CFD-DEM Modelling of Non-spherical Particulate Systems: Theoretical Developments and Applications

Particles encountered in nature and engineering practice are normally not spherical but of irregular shapes. Particle shape plays a key role in determining the behaviour of bulk solids, which poses a number of challenges in modelling and simulation of particulate systems. Discrete element method (DEM) has been recognized as a promising method to meet the challenges. This paper presents a review of the recent efforts in developing DEM approaches to model non-spherical particulate systems (NSPS) and strategies of coupling such a non-spherical DEM model with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for particle-fluid flows. It mainly covers four important aspects: the techniques for representation of non-spherical particles and their contact detection, the models describing inter-particle collision dynamics and fluid-particle forces, CFD-DEM coupling methodologies including averaged volume method and immersed family methods and the applications of the developed theories to the modelling of different NSPS. The main findings are discussed and summarized as a part of the review. Finally, the needs for future development are highlighted.