Patent Document ID: 9472020
Application ID: 14040417
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer-implemented method for discrete element modelling of a plurality of discrete elements corresponding to particles and physical geometry elements, wherein said modelling performs a simulation through time of physical interactions of the particles with each other and with the physical geometry elements in a three-dimensional space, the method comprising: providing, in a computer memory, a plurality of discrete element material models, each discrete element material model corresponding to a respective bulk material and containing (i) information regarding the properties of particles within said bulk material, and (ii) information regarding the interactions of such particles; receiving from a user, through a user interface: (i) a selection of a bulk material for use in a simulation, and (ii) a specification of properties associated with the selected bulk material; generating, using a computer, a set of particles of the selected bulk material for use in the simulation based on (i) the discrete element material model for the selected bulk material, and (ii) the properties of the bulk material specified by the user; and performing, using a computer, a discrete element model simulation on said set of particles, wherein said simulation uses the information regarding the interactions of particles from the discrete element material model for the selected bulk material.