Home
Tutorials
Start using EDEM with our interactive tutorials.
API Tutorials
These tutorials are intended for users who are looking to get started with EDEM API models that they have previously created, or downloaded from the Altair Community.
EDEM API 4000 Particle Replacement
This tutorial describes how to add an existing API model to a simulation which includes Bonded Particles. The API model replaces large spheres with clumps of smaller spheres.
EDEM Simulator - Run the Simulation
Once you have set up the model, learn how to run fast and efficient simulations using EDEM Simulator.

Welcome
What's New
This section describes the key features in EDEM version 2025.1.
About EDEM
EDEM is a high-performance simulation software for bulk and granular materials.
Hardware Requirements
This section details the minimum system requirements and requisites for running EDEM.
Release Notes EDEM 2025.1.1
This section contains information about the EDEM 2025.1.1 release, such as bug fixes.
Release Notes EDEM 2025.1
This section contains information about the EDEM 2025.1 release, such as key features, enhancements, and bug fixes.
Tutorials
Start using EDEM with our interactive tutorials.
- Introduction to EDEM Tutorials
  These introductory tutorials are intended for users who are new to EDEM, and want to get started with the fundamentals of setting up, running, and analyzing a simulation.
- Physics Models Tutorials
  These tutorials are intended for users who are new to the EDEM contact models (physics behavior of particle/Geometry elements when they come into contact with each other) and describes how to use the appropriate contact models.
- Application Tutorials
  These tutorials are intended to cover specific applications, or application-focused features of EDEM. They are primarily intended for users working in the relevant application areas, but may also be useful for new users intending to understand the areas where EDEM can be deployed.
- API Tutorials
  These tutorials are intended for users who are looking to get started with EDEM API models that they have previously created, or downloaded from the Altair Community.
  - EDEM API 4000 Particle Replacement
    This tutorial describes how to add an existing API model to a simulation which includes Bonded Particles. The API model replaces large spheres with clumps of smaller spheres.
    - EDEM Creator - Set up the Model
      Learn how to set up a simulation model and equipment, and define the generation of bulk materials using EDEM Creator.
    - EDEM Simulator - Run the Simulation
      Once you have set up the model, learn how to run fast and efficient simulations using EDEM Simulator.
    - EDEM Analyst - Analyze your Results
      The final step in this tutorial is to learn how to review, examine, and change the visual properties of particles.
  - EDEM API 4100 Variable Cohesion
    This tutorial describes how to create a new cohesion contact model, based on an existing contact model supplied with EDEM.
Get Started with EDEM
The EDEM user interface comprises three icons for each simulation component - Creator, Simulator, and Analyst.
EDEM Creator
EDEM Creator is the pre-processor for creating an EDEM simulation model, including setting up equipment and defining the generation of bulk materials.
EDEM Simulator
EDEM Simulator is a powerful solver used for fast and efficient simulations.
EDEM Analyst
EDEM Analyst is the post-processor used to analyze and visualize the results of your simulation.
EDEM Physics Models
A Contact Model describes how elements behave when they come into contact with each other.
EDEM Cal Utility
EDEM Cal is a utility which works with EDEM and is designed to assist in performing calibration.
EDEM Calibration Kits
The EDEM Calibration kits are a collection of EDEM models of standard bulk solids characterization tests commonly used for EDEM material model calibration.
GPU CUDA Guide
The EDEM CUDA GPU module uses the latest General Purpose Computing on Graphical Processing Units (GPU) technology.
Programming Guide
The EDEM Programming Guide describes the EDEM API.
Coupling Interface Programming Guide
The Coupling Interface Programming Guide provides an overview of how to use the EDEM Coupling Interface to couple with a generic CFD code and/or Multi Body dynamics codes.
EDEMpy
EDEMpy is a Python library for accessing EDEM data from .h5 files (the underlying EDEM file format). EDEMpy does not require prior knowledge of advanced programming.
EDEM Solver Capabilities
EDEM contains four solver engines.
Appendix
This section provides additional information about how to estimate simulation time, supported EDEM File types, attribute definitions, and so on.
EDEM Terminology
Definitions of terms used in EDEM.
References and Bibliography
This section cites the contributions made by various authors and sources that have been used as reference material for EDEM, and the specifics of how they have been applied can be found in the individual contact model sections.

EDEM Simulator - Run the Simulation

Once you have set up the model, learn how to run fast and efficient simulations using EDEM Simulator.

To run the simulation:

Click the

icon on the toolbar to open EDEM Simulator.

Set the Time and Grid options

The first step in running the simulation is to set the Time Step. The Time Step is the amount of time between iterations (calculations). The Time Step value is based on the material properties, and is usually set between 20% of the Rayleigh Time Step for the smallest particle in the simulation at any point in time..

To set the Time Step:

In this simulation, ensure that the Auto Time Step checkbox is selected and the default Time Integration method is Euler.
Set the simulation time and data write-out frequency.
The simulation time is the amount of real time your simulation represents.
1. In the Simulation Time section, set the Total Time to 5 s.
2. Set the Target Save Interval to 0.005 s to specify the write-out frequency.
Enure that Simulator Grid Cell Size is set to 3 R_min or use the CUDA GPU solver.

Run the Simulation

The last step is to run the simulation.

To run the simulation:

Click the Start Progress icon in the Simulation window.
In the Viewer Controls, click the Refresh Viewer icon or the enable Auto Update icon at any point to update the Viewer to view the progress of the simulation.

Next Step - Analyze your Results