Numerical comparison of some contact detection algorithms
Abstract
Purpose
Contact interaction and contact detection (CD) remain key components of any discontinua simulations. The methods of discontinua include combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM), discrete element method, molecular dynamics, etc. In recent years, a number of CD algorithms have been developed, such as Munjiza–Rougier (MR), Munjiza–Rougier–Schiava (MR-S), Munjiza-No Binary Search (NBS), Balanced Binary Tree Schiava (BBTS), 3D Discontinuous Deformation Analysis and many others. This work aims to conduct a numerical comparison of certain algorithms often used in FDEM for bodies of the same size. These include MR, MR-S, NBS and BBTS algorithms.
Design/methodology/approach
Computational simulations were used in this work.
Findings
In discrete element simulations where particles are introduced randomly or in which the relative position between particles is constantly changing, the MR and MR-S algorithms present an advantage in terms of CD times.
Originality/value
This paper presents a detailed comparison between CD algorithms. The comparisons are performed for problem cases with different lattices and distributions of particles in discrete element simulations. The comparison includes algorithms that have not been evaluated between them. Also, two new algorithms are presented in the paper, MR-S and BBTS.
Keywords
Citation
Schiava D'Albano, G.G., Lukas, T., Su, F., Korakianitis, T. and Munjiza, A. (2017), "Numerical comparison of some contact detection algorithms", Engineering Computations, Vol. 34 No. 3, pp. 832-851. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-01-2016-0047
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited Bingley, United Kingdom
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited