EDEM Analyst - Analyze your results

Learn how to review, examine, and analyze the results of the simulation using EDEM Analyst.

To analyze the simulation results:
  1. Click the icon on the Toolbar.
  2. Use the controls below the simulation window to rewind the simulation to the first Time Step.
  3. Click the icon to play through each Time Step of your simulation.

Plot Graphs

The last step in this tutorial is to learn to plot the data collected during your simulation using graphs.

To plot various types of graphs:
Plot a linear graph of the mass flow rate of all particles changing over time on the bottom conveyor.
  1. Click the icon on the toolbar.
    Note: If you cannot see this icon on your toolbar, expand the Standard toolbar.
  2. Select the Histogram tab and set the parameters as follows:


    1. In the Select Element subsection, set the Group to Particle, Type to OreParticle and Selection to All.
    2. In the X-Axis tab, set the Attribute to Diameter.
    3. In the Y-Axis tab, set the Primary Attribute to Number of Particles and Component to Total.
    4. In the Settings tab, select the Time Step at which you want to visualize the size distribution.
      The size distribution at the beginning (1s) and at the end of the simulation are shown in the following figures.
      Figure 1. Particle size distribution at the beginning of the simulation


      Figure 2. Particle size distribution at the end of the simulation


  3. Click Create Graph to plot the graph.

Use the Breakage Post-processing tool

EDEM offers a built-in tool called Breakage Particle Size Distribution to provide access to the size distribution of fine particles.

To use the breakage post -processing tool:
  1. Go to File > Export > Breakage Particle Size Distribution.
  2. Set the Timestep Start: to 5 s.
  3. Set the Timestep End: to 5 s.
  4. Select OreParticle from the Breakage Particle dropdown list.
  5. Set the Minimum Diameter (mm) to 1 mm.
  6. Specify the name of the Output file (csv) to Breakage_Tutorial_psd.csv.
  7. Select the Save Graph of Results (png) checkbox and specify the name as Breakage_Tutorial_plot.png.
  8. Click Export.
    Note:
    • To be able to achieve continuous breakage, you must apply the particle replacement approach sequentially, recognizing that each fragment generated is a new particle in the system that can also break again if stressed beyond its fracture energy. Therefore, all breakable particles are being replaced by sets of families of fragments with different size distributions, replicating real-world scenarios until the minimum specified particle size is reached after which the particles will no longer break.

      However. once the simulation is completed, considering the intensity of the breakage events, you can analyze the particles to calculate the corresponding distribution of fines that may have been generated below the minimum specified size. This method uses computational efficiency and extends the size distribution without the need to create finer particles within the EDEM simulation.

    • The minimum diameter is not the same as the D Minimum specified in EDEM Creator, but is the minimum size of the fines that you want to achieve.
    • The Lambda parameter refers to the percentage passing of fines, and it is estimated based on the t4 and t75 values (whenever comprehensive experimental data exists). For most materials, it is found to be between 0.49 and 0.63. If the default value is used then EDEM will use a random value within that range.
    • Once the script is executed, two files containing data about the particle size distribution will be saved in the specified folder as follows:


Configure the Display

You can use the Display section in the Analyst Tree to configure the appearance of the different elements in your model. The Geometry, particles, and contacts within your model can also be colored in a variety of ways. Any section of a Geometry, particle, contact type, or selection group can be colored independently.

To configure the Display section:
  1. Configure the Geometries subsection.
    1. Click Display in the Analyst Tree and then expand the Geometries subsection.
    2. Select SAG_Mill and in the Detailed View. make sure the Display Mode is set to Filled.
    3. Select the Display Mode as Filled.
    4. Select a color from the Color dropdown list.
    5. Click Apply All to view the changes in the Viewer window.
    6. Before finishing, click factory in the Geometries section and ensure that the Display factory checkbox is not selected.
  2. Configure the Particles subsection.
    You can modify the display of the particles in a similar way as that of the Geometry. In addition, the particles can be represented using a number of different forms, such as cones, streams, and vector that traces the direction in which the particles move.
    1. Select the Particles subsection in the Analyst Tree and select OreParticle
    2. In the Coloring section, select Color by Diameter from the dropdown list.
    3. Select three levels of coloring and set the Min, Mid, and Max colors to Blue, Green, and Red respectively.
    4. Leave the Smooth Colors checkbox selected.
    5. Select the Auto Update checkbox next to the Min Color and Max Color fields.

      The selected values are updated according to the Time Step being viewed.

    6. Select the Show Legend checkbox.
    7. Select SteelParticle from the Analyst Tree.
    8. In the Coloring section, select Color by Uniform from the dropdown list and set the color to Black.
      The Simulator settings are displayed as follows: