When working with particle simulation in Ansys Rocky™ particle dynamics simulation software, in addition to having native features designed to provide the best particle simulation, you can also count on more than 40 ready-to-use modules that offer additional resources to enhance the accuracy, performance, and insight of your results. Whether you are new to Rocky application or looking to optimize your current workflow, this article brings 5 of these modules to improve your simulations and key information to help you choose and apply the right tools for your project goals.

1. Bond Model Module

The Bond Model module allows you to create cylindrical shaped bonds between pairs of neighbor particles. The module also allows you to specify the normal and the tangential strength limits of these bonds, which will break when the external loads acting on them exceed these limits so the particles will not be bonded anymore.

The image above shows an example of how this module can be applied. The process of drilling a hole in the wall is simulated where neighboring particles are bonded to represent the concrete. As the rotary drill bit forwards against the wall, the bonds strength limits are exceeded, and the hole is formed.

2. CFD Particle Combustion Module

The CFD-Coupled Particle Combustion module enables you to consider the reaction of coal particles during combustion. In this problem, conduction and convection are considered in the heat transfer modeling, as the local temperature affects the combustion rates. Radiation effects can be included through the Thermal Radiation module. Because of these abilities, it is designed to work with Ansys Rocky’s 2-Way Fluent coupling method, and Thermal Model.

As illustrated in the image above, the fluid reacts with the solid particle. The carbon core will be combusted, and its mass reduced, whereas the ash layer will not react.

Two reactions occur in parallel. In the first one, the oxygen from the air oxidizes the particle’s carbon content. This leads to the oxygen and carbon consumption, carbon dioxide generation and the consequent particle size reduction. Similarly, in the second one, the carbon dioxide from the air reacts with the particle’s carbon content to release carbon monoxide, reducing the particle size as well.

3. Electromagnetic Coupling Module

The Electromagnetic Coupling module enables you to add electromagnetic physics to the simulation, such as, Electrostatic forces for particle-particle and particle-boundary interaction; charging and discharging effects on particles due contact with boundary surfaces and field forces on charged or dipole particles immersed in electric/magnetic fields.

4. Liquid Bridge

A liquid bridge is formed when two particles with liquid films get close enough for their films to touch, or “bridge”. This is a type of adhesion model that can be useful when studying wet particulate processes. An example of such a process is provided in the image below, where liquid from a wet additive (blue) is transferred to a dry power (white) over time.

5. Particle Freeze outside region

The Particle Freeze Outside Region module enables you to save calculation resources and drastically speed up processing  by freezing the particles that are outside all the regions of interest and then disabling them from contact calculation.

The image above shows an application example of the Particle Freeze Outside Region on a disk harrow simulation, in which the goal is to evaluate the soil tilling according to the disks angulation and spacing.

For SPH simulations you can also use the SPH Freeze Outside Region module which enables you to save calculation resources and drastically speed up processing by freezing the SPH elements that are outside from all Regions of interest and then disabling them from interaction forces calculation.

To find more information about other Rocky Modules and their functionalities, visit the Ansys Rocky Module Manual on Ansys Help and the Ready-to-use Modules page on Ansys Rocky Innovation Space.

Ansys Rocky™ particle dynamics simulation software

Learn more about Ansys Rocky™ software in Ansys Rocky  Innovation Space.