Blaze-DEMGPU: Modular high performance DEM framework for the GPU architecture

AbstractBlaze-DEMGPU is a modular GPU based discrete element method (DEM) framework that supports polyhedral shaped particles. The high level performance is attributed to the light weight and Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) that the GPU architecture offers. Blaze-DEMGPU offers suitable algorithms to conduct DEM simulations on the GPU and these algorithms can be extended and modified. Since a large number of scientific simulations are particle based, many of the algorithms and strategies for GPU implementation present in Blaze-DEMGPU can be applied to other fields. Blaze-DEMGPU will make it easier for new researchers to use high performance GPU computing as well as stimulate wider GPU research efforts by the DEM community

Validation of the gpu based blaze-dem framework for hopper discharge

Understanding the dynamical behavior of particulate materials is extremely important to many industrial processes, with typical applications that range from hopper flows in agriculture to tumbling mills in the mining industry. The discrete element method (DEM) has become the defacto standard to simulate particulate materials. The DEM is a compu- tationally intensive numerical approach that is limited to a moderate amount (thousands) of particles when considering fully coupled densely packed systems modeled by realistic par- ticle shape and history dependent constitutive relationships. A large number (millions) of particles can be simulated when the coupling between particles is relaxed to still accurately simulated lesser dense systems. Massively large scale simulations (tens of millions) are possi- ble when particle shapes are simplified, however this may lead to oversimplification when an accurate representation of the particle shape is essential to capture the macroscopic transport of particulates. Polyhedra represent the geometry of most convex particulate materials well and when combined with appropriate contact models predicts realistic mechanical behavior to that of the actual system. Detecting collisions between polyhedra is computationally ex- pensive often limiting simulations to only hundreds of thousands of particles. However, the computational architecture e.g. CPU and GPU plays a significant role on the performance that can be realized. The parallel nature of the GPU allows for a large number of simple independent processes to be executed in parallel. This results in a significant speed up over conventional implementations utilizing the Central Processing Unit (CPU) architecture, when algorithms are well aligned and optimized for the threading model of the GPU. We recently introduced the BLAZE-DEM framework for the GPU architecture that can model millions of pherical and polyhedral particles in a realistic time frame using a single GPU. In this paper we validate BLAZE-DEM for hopper discharge simulations. We firstly compare the flow-rates and patterns of polyhedra and spheres obtained with experiment to that of DEM. We then compare flow-rates between spheres and polyhedra to gauge the effect of particle shape. Finally we perform a large scale DEM simulation using 16 million articles to illustrate the capability of BLAZE-DEM to predict bulk flow in realistic hoppers

Potential for interactive design simulations in discrete element modelling

This study investigates the potential for combining lower fidelity models with high performance solution strategies such as efficient graphical processing unit (GPU) based discrete element modelling (DEM) to not only do simulations faster but differently. Specifically this study investigates interactive simulation and design for which the simulation environment BlazeDEM-GPU was developed that allows researchers and engineers to interact with simulations. The initial results prove to be promising and warranting extensive research to be conducted in future which may allow for the development of alternative paradigms. In addition to the design cycle, the role that this interactive simulation and design will play in education is invaluable as an in-house corporate training tool for young engineers to actively train and develop understanding for specific industrial processes. This would also allow engineers to conduct just-in-time (JIT) simulation based assessment of processes before commencing on actual site visits, allowing for shorter and more focussed site excursions

Discrete element model study into effects of particle shape on backfill response to cyclic loading behind an integral bridge abutment

The discrete element method, implemented in a modular GPU based framework that supports polyhedral shaped particles (Blaze-DEM), was used to investigate effects of particle shape on backfill response behind integral bridge abutments during temperature-induced displacement cycles. The rate and magnitude of horizontal stress build-up were found to be strongly related to particle sphericity. The stress build-up in particles of high sphericity was gradual and related to densification extending relatively far from the abutment. With increasing angularities, densification was localised near the abutment, but larger and more rapid stress build-up occurred, supported by particle reorientation and interlock developing further away.https://link.springer.com/journal/100352019-11-01hj2018Civil EngineeringMechanical and Aeronautical Engineerin

Implementation of a Discrete Element Method (DEM) particle simulator for GPU cluster

Orientador: Luiz Otávio Saraiva FerreiraDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia MecânicaResumo: Os avanços na tecnologia das GPUs, tanto em hardware quanto em ferramentas de programação, tornaram-nas uma opção viável como processadores de uso geral, sendo adequadas para a realização de processamento paralelo com alta demanda de cálculos. Dentre os problemas que podem fazer uso das GPUs são as simulações que envolvem o fluxo de partículas como o Método dos Elementos Discretos (DEM). Assim, a proposta deste trabalho foi implementar em cluster de GPUs um simulador utilizando o Método dos Elementos Discretos. O simulador foi inicialmente validado para uma única GPU utilizando resultados experimentais disponíveis na literatura, onde foram possíveis obter resultados com erros menores do que 10%. Além disso, os tempos de processamento para uma única GPU foram comparados com outro simulador, também implementado em GPU, resultando em tempos de execução semelhantes aos reportados. Finalmente, o método foi expandido para o cluster de GPUs, utilizando uma abordagem híbrida (MPI + CUDA), e apresentou um ganho de desempenho adequado à medida que o número de GPUs foi aumentadoAbstract: Advances in GPU technology, both in hardware and programming tools, have made them a viable option as general-purpose processors, suitable for performing parallel processing tasks with high computational demand. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) studies a class of problems that can make use of GPUs high computational power. Thus, the proposal of this work was to implement a simulator using the Discrete Element Method in a GPU cluster. The simulator was initially validated for a single GPU using experimental results available in the literature, where it was possible to obtain results with errors less than 10%. Also, processing times for a single GPU were compared with another simulator, also implemented in GPU, resulting in run times similar to those reported. Finally, the method was ported to the GPU cluster, using a hybrid approach (MPI + CUDA), and presented a suitable gain of performance as the number of GPUs was increasedMestradoMecanica dos Sólidos e Projeto MecanicoMestre em Engenharia Mecânic

Modeling of realistic microstructures on the basis of quantitative mineralogical analyses

Diese Forschung zielt darauf ab, den Einsatz realistischer Mineralmikrostrukturen in Mineralverarbeitungssimulationen Simulationen von Aufbereitungsprozessen zu ermöglichen. Insbesondere Zerkleinerungsprozesse, wie z.B. das Brechen und Mahlen von mineralischen Rohmaterialien, werden stark von der mineralischen Mikrostruktur beeinflusst, da die Textur und die Struktur der vielen Körner und ihre mikromechanischen Eigenschaften das makroskopische Bruchverhalten bestimmen. Ein Beispiel: Stellen wir uns vor, wir haben ein mineralisches Material, das im Wesentlichen aus Körnern zweier verschiedener Mineralphasen, wie Quarz und Feldspat, besteht. Wenn die mikromechanischen Eigenschaften dieser beiden Phasen unterschiedlich sind, wird sich dies wahrscheinlich auf das makroskopische Bruchverhalten auswirken. Unter der Annahme, dass die Körner eines der Minerale bei geringeren Belastungen brechen, ist es wahrscheinlich, dass sich ein Riss durch einen Stein dieses Materials durch die schwächeren Körner ausbreitet. Tatsächlich ist dies eine wichtige Eigenschaft für die Erzaufbereitung. Um wertvolle Mineralien aus einem Erz zu gewinnen, ist es wichtig, sie aus dem kommerziell wertlosen Material, in dem sie vorkommen, zu befreien. Dazu ist es wichtig zu wissen und zu verstehen, wie das Material auf Korngrößenebene bricht. Um diesen Bruch simulieren zu können, ist es wichtig, realistische Modelle der mineralischen Mikrostrukturen zu verwenden. Diese Studie zeigt, wie solche realistischen zweidimensionalen Mikrostrukturen auf der Grundlage der quantitativen Mikrostrukturanalyse am Computer erzeugt werden können. Darüber hinaus zeigt die Studie, wie diese synthetischen Mikrostrukturen dann in die gut etablierte Diskrete-Elemente-Methode integriert werden können, bei der der Bruch von mineralischem Material auf Korngrößenebene simuliert werden kann.:List of Acronyms VII List of Latin Symbols IX List of Greek Symbols XV 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Motivation for using realistic microstructures in Discrete Element Method (DEM) 1 1.2 Possibilities for using realistic mineral microstructures in DEM simulations . 4 1.3 Objective and disposition of the thesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2 Background 9 2.1 Discrete Element Method (DEM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2.1.1 Fundamentals of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) . . . . . . . . 9 2.1.2 Applications of DEM in comminution science . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 2.1.3 Limitations of DEM in comminution science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 2.2 Quantitative Microstructural Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 2.2.1 Fundamentals of the Quantitative Microstructural Analysis . . . . . . 29 2.2.2 Applied QMA in mineral processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 2.2.3 Applicability of the QMA for the synthesis of realistic microstructures 49 3 Synthesis of realistic mineral microstructures for DEM simulations 51 3.1 Development of a computer-assisted QMA for the analysis of real and synthetic mineral microstructures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 3.1.1 Fundamentals of the computer-assisted QMA . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 3.1.2 The requirements for the false-color image. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 3.1.3 The conversion of a given real mineral microstructure into a false-color image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 3.1.4 Implementation of the point, line, and area analysis . . . . . . . . . 59 3.1.5 Selection of appropriate QMA parameters for analyzing two-dimensional microstructures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 3.1.6 Summary of the principles of the adapted Quantitative Microstructural Analysis (QMA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 3.2 Analysis of possible strategies for the microstructure synthesis . . . . . . . . 71 3.3 Implementation of the drawing method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 3.3.1 Drawing of a single grain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 XVIII List of Greek Symbols 3.3.2 Drawing of multiple grains, which form a synthetic microstructure . . 81 3.3.3 Synthesizing mineral microstructures consisting of multiple phases . 85 3.4 The final program for microstructure analysis and synthesis . . . . . . . . . 89 3.4.1 Synthesis and analysis of an example microstructure . . . . . . . . . 90 3.4.2 Procedure for generating a realistic synthetic microstructure of a given real microstructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 4 Validation of the synthesis approach 103 4.1 Methodical considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 4.1.1 The basic idea of the validation procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 4.1.2 The experimental realizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 4.2 Basic indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 4.2.1 Considerations for the basic indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 4.2.2 Realization and evaluation of the real basic indenter test . . . . . . . 114 4.2.3 Realization and evaluation of the simulated basic indenter test . . . 127 4.2.4 Conclusions on the basic indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 4.3 Extended indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 4.3.1 Basic considerations for the extended indenter test . . . . . . . . . . 139 4.3.2 Realization and evaluation of the real extended indenter test . . . . 142 4.3.3 Realization and evaluation of the simulated extended indenter test . 154 4.3.4 Conclusions on the extended indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 4.4 Particle bed test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 4.4.1 Basic considerations for the particle bed test . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 4.4.2 Realization and evaluation of the real particle bed test . . . . . . . . 176 4.4.3 Realization and evaluation of the simulated particle bed test . . . . . 188 4.4.4 Conclusions on the particle bed test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 5 Conclusions and directions for future development 205 6 References 211 List of Figures 229 List of Tables 235 Appendix 237This research aims to make it possible to use realistic mineral microstructures in simulations of mineral processing. In particular, comminution processes, such as the crushing and grinding of raw mineral materials, are highly aff ected by the mineral microstructure, since the texture and structure of the many grains and their micromechanical properties determine the macroscopic fracture behavior. To illustrate this, consider a mineral material that essentially consists of grains of two diff erent mineral phases, such as quartz and feldspar. If the micromechanical properties of these two phases are diff erent, this will likely have an impact on the macroscopic fracture behavior. Assuming that the grains of one of the minerals break at lower loads, it is likely that a crack through a stone of that material will spread through the weaker grains. In fact, this is an important property for ore processing. In order to extract valuable minerals from an ore, it is important to liberate them from the commercially worthless material in which they are found. For this, it is essential to know and understand how the material breaks at grain-size level. To be able to simulate this breakage, it is important to use realistic models of the mineral microstructures. This study demonstrates how such realistic two-dimensional microstructures can be generated on the computer based on quantitative microstructural analysis. Furthermore, the study shows how these synthetic microstructures can then be incorporated into the well-established discrete element method, where the breakage of mineral material can be simulated at grain-size level.:List of Acronyms VII List of Latin Symbols IX List of Greek Symbols XV 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Motivation for using realistic microstructures in Discrete Element Method (DEM) 1 1.2 Possibilities for using realistic mineral microstructures in DEM simulations . 4 1.3 Objective and disposition of the thesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2 Background 9 2.1 Discrete Element Method (DEM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2.1.1 Fundamentals of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) . . . . . . . . 9 2.1.2 Applications of DEM in comminution science . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 2.1.3 Limitations of DEM in comminution science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 2.2 Quantitative Microstructural Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 2.2.1 Fundamentals of the Quantitative Microstructural Analysis . . . . . . 29 2.2.2 Applied QMA in mineral processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 2.2.3 Applicability of the QMA for the synthesis of realistic microstructures 49 3 Synthesis of realistic mineral microstructures for DEM simulations 51 3.1 Development of a computer-assisted QMA for the analysis of real and synthetic mineral microstructures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 3.1.1 Fundamentals of the computer-assisted QMA . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 3.1.2 The requirements for the false-color image. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 3.1.3 The conversion of a given real mineral microstructure into a false-color image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 3.1.4 Implementation of the point, line, and area analysis . . . . . . . . . 59 3.1.5 Selection of appropriate QMA parameters for analyzing two-dimensional microstructures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 3.1.6 Summary of the principles of the adapted Quantitative Microstructural Analysis (QMA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 3.2 Analysis of possible strategies for the microstructure synthesis . . . . . . . . 71 3.3 Implementation of the drawing method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 3.3.1 Drawing of a single grain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 XVIII List of Greek Symbols 3.3.2 Drawing of multiple grains, which form a synthetic microstructure . . 81 3.3.3 Synthesizing mineral microstructures consisting of multiple phases . 85 3.4 The final program for microstructure analysis and synthesis . . . . . . . . . 89 3.4.1 Synthesis and analysis of an example microstructure . . . . . . . . . 90 3.4.2 Procedure for generating a realistic synthetic microstructure of a given real microstructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 4 Validation of the synthesis approach 103 4.1 Methodical considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 4.1.1 The basic idea of the validation procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 4.1.2 The experimental realizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 4.2 Basic indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 4.2.1 Considerations for the basic indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 4.2.2 Realization and evaluation of the real basic indenter test . . . . . . . 114 4.2.3 Realization and evaluation of the simulated basic indenter test . . . 127 4.2.4 Conclusions on the basic indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 4.3 Extended indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 4.3.1 Basic considerations for the extended indenter test . . . . . . . . . . 139 4.3.2 Realization and evaluation of the real extended indenter test . . . . 142 4.3.3 Realization and evaluation of the simulated extended indenter test . 154 4.3.4 Conclusions on the extended indenter test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 4.4 Particle bed test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 4.4.1 Basic considerations for the particle bed test . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 4.4.2 Realization and evaluation of the real particle bed test . . . . . . . . 176 4.4.3 Realization and evaluation of the simulated particle bed test . . . . . 188 4.4.4 Conclusions on the particle bed test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 5 Conclusions and directions for future development 205 6 References 211 List of Figures 229 List of Tables 235 Appendix 23

Robust and efficient meshfree solid thermo-mechanics simulation of friction stir welding

Friction stir welding, FSW, is a solid-state joining method that is ideally suited for welding aluminum alloys. Welding of the aluminum is accomplished by way of a hardened steel tool that rotates and is pushed with great force into the work pieces. Friction between the tool and the aluminum causes heat to be generated, which softens the aluminum, rendering it easy to deform plastically. In recent years, the FSW process has steadily gained interest in various fabrication industries. However, wide spread acceptance has not yet been attained. Some of the main reasons for this are due to the complexity of the process and the capital cost to procure the required welding equipment and infrastructure. To date, little attention has been paid towards finding optimal process parameters that will increase the economic viability of the FSW process, thus offsetting the high initial investment most. In this research project, a robust and efficient numerical simulation code called SPHriction-3D is developed that can be used to find optimal FSW process parameters. The numerical method is meshfree, allowing for all of the phases of the FSW process to be simulated with a phenomenological approach. The dissertation starts with a focus on the current state of art. Next an in-depth development of the proposed meshfree formulation is presented. Then, the emphasis turns towards the presentation of various test cases along with experimental validation (the focus is on temperature, defects, and tool forces). The remainder of the thesis is dedicated to the development of a robust approach to find the optimal weld quality, and the associated tool rpm and advancing speed. The presented results are of engineering precision and are obtained with low calculation times (hours as opposed to days or weeks). This is possible, since the meshfree code is developed to run in parallel entirely on the GPU. The overall outcome is a cutting edge simulation approach for the entire FSW process. Le soudage par friction malaxage, SFM, est une méthode idéale pour relier ensemble des pièces en aluminium. Lors du procédé, un outil en acier très dur tourne à haute vitesse et est presser dans les plaques avec beaucoup de force. L’outil frotte sur les plaques et génère la chaleur, ce qui ramollie l’aluminium, ceci le rendant plus facile à déformé mécaniquement. Récemment, le SFM a connu une croissance de reconnaissance important, par contre, l’industrie ne l’as pas encore adopté unilatéralement. Il existe encore beaucoup de terrain à défricher avant de bien comprendre comment les paramètres du procédé font effet sur la qualité de la soudure. Dans ce travail, on présente une approche de simulation numérique sans maillage pour le SFM. Le code développé est capable de prendre en considération des grandes déformations plastiques, le ramollissement de l’aluminium avec la température, et la condition de frottement complexe. Cette méthode permet de simulé tous les phases du procédé SFM dans une seule modèle. La thèse commence avec un mis en contexte de l’état actuel de la simulation numérique du SFM. Une fois la méthodologie de simulation sans maillage présenté, la thèse concentre sur différents cas de vérification et validation. Finalement, un travail d’optimisation des paramètres du procédé est réalisé avec le code numérique. La méthode de simulation présentée s’agit d’une approche efficace et robuste, ce qui le rend un outil de conception valable pour les ingénieurs qui travaille dans le domaine de SFM