Particle Shape Editor

The Particle Shape Editor is a tool for defining the model particles used in the DEM Material Model that can comprise both spherical and non-spherical particles.

With the Particle Shape Editor, you can create complex multi-element model particles from simple spherical elements. Model particles can be based on CAD templates of real particles imported to provide realistic particle visualizations, as well as automated calculation of the particle inertial properties. Model particles can be saved to a database to allow common models to be shared between EDEM simulations.

Accessing the Particle Shape Editor

1. From the Start menu, open EDEM with Material Modeler.
2. On the Toolbar, select Material Modeler > Particle Shape Editor.
   The following window is displayed:
   
3. Toolbar and Menu Bar
4. Particles
5. Viewer
6. Particle Table
7. Display Options
8. Properties

Toolbar

Icon	Name	Description
	Reload	Reloads the database.
	Save	Saves the database.
	Add particle	Adds a new particle.
	Remove particle	Removes the current particle.
	Rename particle	Renames the current particle.
	Copy particle.	Creates a copy of the current particle.
	Add sphere	Adds an sphere to the particle.
	Remove sphere.	Removes the selected sphere from the current particle.
	Manage templates.	Opens dialog to manage Templates.

Menu Bar

File Menu

1. Reload
   
   Reloads the database, any unsaved changes are lost.

2. Save
   
   Saves the database.

3. Quit.
   
   Quits the Particle Shape Editor.

Tools Menu

1. Add Particle
   Adds a new particle.
2. Remove Particle
   Removes the current particle.
3. Rename Particle
   Renames the current particle.
4. Copy Particle
   Creates a copy the current particle.
5. Add Sphere
   Adds a sphere to the particle.
6. Remove Sphere
   Removes the selected sphere from the current particle.
7. Manage Templates
   Opens dialog to manage Templates.

View Menu

The Particle, Display Options, and Properties panes are widgets that can be floating or docked (see Floating and Docked Panes), and they can also be hidden using the check boxes in the View menu.

You can also right-click anywhere on the toolbar of any pane to show a list of the panes. Select or un-select a pane to open or close it. In addition, each pane can be closed using the close button displayed on its title bar.

 

1. Particles
   
   Show or hide the Particles pane.

2. Display Options
   
   Show or hide the Display Options pane.

3. Properties
   Show or hide the Properties pane.
4. Toolbars
   Show or hide the toolbars.

Particles

The Particles pane is displayed on the left side of the Particle Shape Editor window. It contains a list of all the particles in your database. The particle that is currently selected in this pane determines what is shown in the other parts of the window.

Right-clicking the particles list produces a popup menu that contains the particle-related options that also exist in the Tools Menu and Toolbar.

Viewer

The Viewer displays 3D representations of the available particles. The rotation, position and zoom factor of the Viewer are controlled using the mouse.

Particle Table

This pane contains a table with the properties of all the elements that make up the current particle. The table contains the XYZ positions and the radius of the spheres. An extra column for contact radius will appear in the table you select the Physical Contact Radius checkbox in the Properties pane.

Display Options

The options contained in this pane affect how the particles are shown in the viewer pane. The options can be turned on and off independently of what particle is currently selected.

Show Scale Grid

When checked, this enables the rendering of the grid in the viewer which shows the extents of the particle in the X, Y, and Z directions.

 

Show Origin

When checked, the particle spheres are rendered in wireframe mode with an axis drawn at the origin (0.0, 0.0, 0.0).

 

Highlight Sphere

When checked, this renders the currently selected sphere in the Particle Spheres pane in a different color from the other spheres.

 

Show Template

When checked, this will render the template in the viewer. For this to work there must be template assigned the particle. Templates can be assigned in the Properties pane.

 

Properties

This pane allows you to set other properties related to the current particle. These properties are related to the overall particle and not to specific spheres within the particle.

Volume

The Calculate Volume button allows you to automatically calculate the volume of the particle from its spheres. Alternatively, you can set the volume manually by entering values into the text box.

Clicking the Calculate Volume button will bring up a dialog that presents you with the option to calculate the volume using the spheres that are defined, or using the volume of the template (only available if a template is associated with the particle). If you select Spheres, there is also the option to Center Particle. If selected, this will alter the position of the spheres so that the volume of the particle is evenly distributed around the origin (0.0, 0.0, 0.0).

It is recommended that you recalculate the volume if you make any modifications to the position or radius of the spheres. The volume will not be updated automatically.

Template

You can specify which CAD template, if any, is associated with a particle. CAD templates must first be added to the database using the Manage Templates tool. This template will remain associated with a particle when a DEM Material Model is used in an EDEM simulation, which allows it to be used when rendering the material in the EDEM Analyst.

Imported CAD Templates can be associated with more than one particle.

Physical Contact Radius

Spheres can have a contact radius that is different from the physical radius. When unchecked, the same radius will be used for both physical and contact radius. When checked you can set the contact radius manually to be different from the physical radius. The application of a contact radius will result in all contact detection and force calculations being based on the contact radius, rather that the physical radius.

Floating and Docked Panes

The Particles, Display Options, and Properties panes can each be floating or docked. By default all panes are docked. To undock a pane, double-click on its title bar (control area) and place it anywhere on the screen. Double-click the title bar to re-dock it in its original position or drop it over the left or right edge or the bottom of the screen to dock it in that position.

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