ParticLS: Object-oriented software for discrete element methods and peridynamics

TL;DR

ParticLS is a versatile software library that unifies discrete element methods and peridynamics, enabling simulation of complex particle interactions, deformation, and fracture in various scientific fields.

Contribution

The paper introduces ParticLS, a novel software framework that integrates DEM and peridynamics, allowing flexible modeling of complex particle geometries and interactions.

Findings

Successfully simulates rigid body dynamics and fracture.

Handles complex geometries with level set representations.

Applicable to diverse fields like tectonics and glacier calving.

Abstract

ParticLS (\emph{Partic}le \emph{L}evel \emph{S}ets) is a software library that implements the discrete element method (DEM) and meshfree methods. ParticLS tracks the interaction between individual particles whose geometries are defined by level sets capable of capturing complex shapes. These particles either represent rigid bodies or material points within a continuum. Particle-particle interactions using various contact laws numerically approximate solutions to energy and mass conservation equations, simulating rigid body dynamics or deformation/fracture. By leveraging multiple contact laws, ParticLS can simulate interacting bodies that deform, fracture, and are composed of many particles. In the continuum setting, we numerically solve the peridynamic equations -- integro-differential equations capable of modeling objects with discontinuous displacement fields and complex fracture dynamics. We show that the discretized peridynamic equations can be solved using the same software infrastructure that implements the DEM. Therefore, we design a unique software library where users can easily add particles with arbitrary geometries and new contact laws that model either rigid-body interaction or peridynamic constitutive relationships. We demonstrate ParticLS' versatility on test problems meant to showcase features applicable to a broad selection of fields such as tectonics, granular media, multiscale simulations, glacier calving, and sea ice.