Home
Appendix
This section provides additional information about how to estimate simulation time, supported EDEM File types, attribute definitions, and so on.
EDEM File Types
This section lists the EDEM file types, including Standard and Optional supported file types.

Welcome
What's New
New features and enhancements available in EDEM.
Release Notes
This document contains information about the EDEM release, such as key features and enhancements, bug fixes, and known issues.
About EDEM
EDEM is a high-performance simulation software for bulk and granular materials.
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 Contact 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.
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 File Types
  This section lists the EDEM file types, including Standard and Optional supported file types.
- Estimate Simulation Time
  It is challenging to estimate the exact real time required for a DEM simulation, as each simulation and each computer is different.
- Attribute Definitions
  The following tables provide detailed descriptions for Particle, Geometry, Contact, and Collision attributes.
- Calculate Characteristic Length
  The Characteristic Length is the average length of each feature in the CAD file.
- Use EDEM on a Remote Desktop
  Generally, simulations are set up on Windows. However, the simulation is run on a Windows or Linux processing machine which is remotely located.
- Command Line Example Commands
  This section provides examples of the default processing options, and how to specify processing options and run simulation and export data.
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 File Types

This section lists the EDEM file types, including Standard and Optional supported file types.


File	Type	Description
`.dem`	Data file	Simulation data file for each simulation and exported particle. This contains information about the custom properties used in the simulation.
`.dfg`	Config file	Configuration information for the simulation. This contains the Simulator and Analyst settings.
`.h5`	Simulation h5 data file	HDF5 files containing simulation data. Located in a sub-folder based on the simulation name.
`.dll`	Library	EDEM uses `dll` library files for contact models, particle body forces, and user-defined factories. Use Tools > Options > File Locations to change the file location.
`.ess`	Data file	Binary file that stores per-simulation data for selections.
`.ess`	Data file	If the `.ess` file size exceeds ~ 4.3 GB, EDEM displays the “detected corruption in settings file…” warning after opening the file due to limitations in the data structure size.
`.efd`	Field Data file	File containing the field data information. This now supports files larger than 4GB. `.edf` files are written in HDF5 format.
`materialsDB.h5`	Materials database h5 data file	The Materials database used to define any material used in a model. You can transfer any material to and from a simulation (including shape and interactions) to a HDF5 file format. Use Tools > Options > File Locations to change the file location.
`.ptf`	Particle template	The particle template file containing mesh information. It is created whenever you save a model containing a particle template.
`.gddb`	GEMM database file	File containing all the material information from the EDEM GEMM database.

Standard Supported File types


File Extension	Type	Source Software Application
`.3dm`	Geometry	Rhino
`.case`	Data	EnSight
`.CATPart` `.CATProduct .model`	Geometry	CATIA v4/v5
`.csv`	Data	Any spreadsheet or other software application that can read text files
`.iam .ipt`	Geometry	Inventor
`.igs .iges`	Geometry	IGES
`.jt`	Geometry	Intergraph JT
`.msh`	Geometry	FLUENT Mesh
`.obj`	Geometry	OBJ
`.sat .sab`	Geometry	ACIS
`.sldprt .sldasm`	Geometry	Solid Works
`.stl`	Geometry	STL
`.stmod`	Geometry	Inspire
`.stp .step`	Geometry	STEP
`.x_t .xmt .txt .x_b`	Geometry	Parasolid
`.prt`	Geometry	NX file
`.prt .asm .g`	Geometry	Pro/E

Optional Supported File types


File	Type	Source Software Application
`.cgns`	Data(enabled with the Field Data Coupling Module)	CFD software applications that can read the generic CFD General Notation System format. For example, FLUENT, CFX, and STAR-CD.