Adding Meta-Particles

A Meta-Particle is a collection of individual Multi-Sphere or Sphero-Cylinder particles bonded together using EDEM’s Bonding V2 contact model.

EDEM allows you to create and define flexible fiber/materials.

Creating a Meta-Particle

1. Right-click Bulk Material and select Add Meta-Particle to create a new Meta-Particle.
   Optionally, press Ctrl+Alt+P or click the  icon in the toolbar.
2. Right-click the newly created Meta-Particle to select any of the following options.
   

Defining a Meta-Particle 

1. In the Creator Tree > Bulk Material, select the newly created Meta-Particle.
2. In the empty dialog box, right-click and select Add Particle. Repeat to add the required number of particles for the desired Meta-Particle.
3. In the Particle Type dropdown, select the particles that will make up the desired Meta-Particle.
   1. To add, remove, or copy a particle from the setup, use the following icons:  , , .
   2. Use any combination of different particles to form Meta-Particles (this is not restricted to the same Bulk Material).
   3. Use any arrangement that allows bonding upon creation.
      
4. Arrange the particles using the X, Y, and Z positioning and rotation coordinates so that the particles are next to each other with minimal overlap or separation.
   1. If the particles are significantly overlapping, they will repel and break apart when the Meta-Particle is created.
   2. If the particles are spaced too far apart, they will not bond with each other during the creation process and the Meta-Particle will not form correctly.

The icon highlights the particle that is currently being edited, and the active particle is highlighted in red in the table.

When using the Meta-particles in conjunction with the bonded model, you must define the contact radius. When two contact radii overlap (as they will when setting up a Meta-Particle), this allows a bond to be formed between the particles.

The recommended contact radius is 110% to 120% the size of the particle radius.

The larger the contact radius, the more contacts that will be detected by the model, increasing the simulation time. A large contact radius of ~ 120% of the physical radius is only recommended for very flexible material to ensure no breakages during bending.

Multi-GPU factories which cross the boundary between two GPUs will not generate Meta-Particles as the random nature of particle generation is impacted.