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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.
EDEM 1020 Rock Box - Part 2
This tutorial describes how to modify the simulation to be a high-fidelity model.
EDEM Simulator - Run the Simulation
Once you have set up the model, learn how to run fast and efficient simulations using EDEM Simulator. This simulation requires a Nvidia GPU card.

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.
  - EDEM 1000 Conveyor
    This tutorial describes the basics of EDEM and explains how to set up, run, and analyze a simulation.
  - EDEM 1010 Screw Auger
    This tutorial describes how to set up and analyze an EDEM simulation.
  - EDEM 1020 Rock Box - Part 1
    This tutorial describes the simulation setup suitable for using the Altair Student Edition. This simulation can be set up quickly with low simulation time (~2 minutes on 2 CPU cores).
  - EDEM 1020 Rock Box - Part 2
    This tutorial describes how to modify the simulation to be a high-fidelity model.
    - 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. This simulation requires a Nvidia GPU card.
    - EDEM Analyst - Analyze your results
      Learn how to review, examine, and analyze the results of the simulation using EDEM Analyst.
- 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.
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. This simulation requires a Nvidia GPU card.

To run the simulation:

Go to Tools > Options > Simulator Engine > CUDA.
Select your Nvidia GPU if displayed, else click Device Start Test to view the test results and then click OK.
Click the icon on the toolbar to open EDEM Simulator.

Set the Time 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% and 40% of the automatically calculated Rayleigh Time Step.

To set the Time Step:

In this simulation, ensure that the Auto Time Step checkbox is not selected.
Set the Time Step value to 0.0001 s which should be approximately 12% of the Rayleigh Time Step.
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 15 s.
2. Set the Target Save Interval to 0.02 s to specify the write-out frequency.
  As this is a mixed shape solver with polyhedral particles, the GPU engine and settings are disabled. It is recommended to run this simulation on CUDA GPU only.
Under Advanced Settings, select Hybrid from the Solver Precision dialog box.

Double precision is a direct match to the CPU solver which only has the double precision option. Many graphics cards have slower double precision calculation speed than single precision, the mixed shape solver allows a mix of single and double precision, only using double when required for accuracy.

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.

Note: This simulation takes 15-30 minutes to run depending on the GPU card.

Next Step - Analyze your Results