Workshop 01 - Transfer Chute

Workshop 1 – Transfer Chute
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OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this workshop is to learn how to manipulate the Rocky -

DEM interface, import geometries, outline the principal definitions in
order to execute a simulation and highlight a number of post processing
options.
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GEOMETRY
Feed Conveyor
Material
Inlet
Pulley
Chute
Receiving Conveyor
PROJECT CREATION
Open Rocky-DEM. Look for Rocky-DEM in Program Menu or use

desktop shortcut.
New Project Save Project
PHYSICS DEFINITION
In this step, user is able to define

gravity in its components and the
time during which it is applied in
the model.
GEOMETRY IMPORT
In this option, it’s possible to create or
import geometries:
In some cases, the CAD files are
imported from other software;
In this case, the geometry will be
imported
Right click in Geometry → Import →

Custom Geometry:
Select the file “chute.stl” and save the

project.
GEOMETRY IMPORT
When importing a geometry file, a window is displayed where geometry

limits are shown (limits in X, Y and Z direction);
In “Import Unit” option, a unit is defined. For this Workshop all geometries are in
“mm”;
Click “OK” to include new part into the simulation project
Repeat the procedure for the other geometry files

GEOMETRY IMPORT
To visualize the freshly imported geometry, click and drag

“Geometries”, releasing over the workspace. The workspace will then
be filled with a 3D View of the Geometries.
8
INLET DEFINITION
After the geometries are imported, an inlet must be defined in order to

inject particles into the domain:
Right click in Geometry → Create → Inlet.
INLET DEFINITION
Define the inlet Name: Factory;

In the Geometry Tab, define: Type, Center Coordinates, Incline
Angle, Length and Width (as show);
In the Simulation Configuration Tab, define: Stop Time (as show)
MATERIAL DEFINITION
For this workshop, default values for the three materials will be used.
INTERACTION BETWEEN MATERIALS
In this simulation we have 3 materials, so we need to define 3

interactions:
Particle x Particle;
Particle x Belt;
Particle x Boundary.
Characteristics to define: Static & Dynamic Friction, Coefficient of
Restitution, Adhesive Distance and Force fraction.
Particles Particles
Boundary
Belt
INTERACTION BETWEEN MATERIALS
Static Friction: 0.3

Dynamic Friction: 0.3
Default
Coefficient of Restitution: 0.2
Boundary
Adhesive Distance: 0.0001
Force Fraction: 0

Default Dynamic Friction: 0.5
Default
Particles Coefficient of Restitution: 0.2
Belt
Force Fraction: 0

Dynamic Friction: 0.55 Default
Coefficient of Restitution: 0.2 Particles
Force Fraction: 0
PARTICLE GROUP DEFINITION
To create a new particle group, right click in Particles in the Data Tree
and select the option Create Particles.
With this, a new Particle Group will be available to use.
PARTICLE GROUP DEFINITION
Size: 0.07 m
Cumulative: 100%
Shape Type: Spherical

Rolling Resistance: 0.28
BOUNDARY DEFINITION
After defining all materials needed in the simulation, it is possible to

finish the setup:
Material definition for each boundary;
Definition of mass flow of particles at inlet;
Definition of movement.
Default
Boundary
Default Belt
BOUNDARY MOVEMENT
For “feed conveyor” and

“receiving conveyor 1”, choose
the Movement Type “Rotation
and Translation Without
Displacement”.
(values on next slide)
BOUNDARY MOVEMENT
Feed Conveyor Receiving Conveyor 1
Translational Movement Translational Movement

vx = -2.457 m/s vx = -1.421 m/s
vy = 1.721 m/s vy = 0.313 m/s
vz = 0 m/s vz = 1.372 m/s
Rotational Movement Rotational Movement
ωx = 0 rad/s ω x = 0 rad/s
ω y = 0 rad/s ω y = 0 rad/s
ω z = 0 rad/s ω z = 0 rad/s
MASS FLOW DEFINITION
Right click in Input → Create Particle Input

Select: Entry Point, Particle Name and Tonnage.
SOLVER DEFINITION
In the Time Configuration Tab, define: Simulation Duration, Output

Frequency (as show);
In the General Settings Tab, select: Release Particles without Overlap
Check , Simulation Target (as show);
Start Simulation.
SIMULATION
Particle states can be viewed in real

time as the simulation progresses.
The speed of the simulation depends
on various factors such as:
Number of mesh elements used to define
the geometry;
Number of particles in the simulation
domain at any time;
Smallest particle size and material
stiffness;
The particle shape and the number of
vertices used to define the shape;
Frequency of file output
POST PROCESSING - ANIMATION
Grid-Functions to analyze
Use this tools to navigate either the particles or
between the timesteps of geometry or both
the solution.
In this case, select “Absolute Translational

Velocity” to color the particles
POST PROCESSING - ANIMATION
Click in Tools → Animation
Define the initial and final

frame and create a video of
the particle injection
POST PROCESSING - HISTOGRAM
Right click on one of the geometry

entities or on “Particles” to include a
histogram.
Geometry
Particles
Specific variables for geometries and

particles.
POST PROCESSING - HISTOGRAM
After selecting a geometry entity or particles and selecting the variable

to be analyzed, a histogram will appear in workspace:
POST PROCESSING – MULTI TIME PLOTS
To create a Multi Time Plot, left click on Window → New Multi Time Plot
or use the shortcut Ctrl + M.
It’s possible to include any number of geometry and particle variables in
a single plot.
Post processing – Multi Time Plots
Coloring tab variables: Variables that can be included in multi time plot
view.
Particle Variables Geometry Variables
Click and drag the variable to the multi time plot;

If this is done with Ctrl handled, a subplot will be created.
Post processing – Multi Time Plots
Grid Functions variables: Variables that can be included in multi time

plot view
Particle Variables Geometry Variables
Using grid functions is possible to apply statistics functions to the

selected variable
Particles Count (-) -

Measures the number of
particles that are in the
domain
Particles In Count (-) -

Measures the number of
particles that enter the
domain
POST PROCESSING – USER PROCESS
User processes are created to specific post processing. Using this tool,
geometry and particle domains can be divided and analyzed separately:
To divide the domain, right click on a geometry part or on particle domains, select
“Processes” and then select one of the following options:
Cube;
Plane;
Property;
Particles Trajectory;
Cylinder;
Cell Inspector;
Polyhedron (Envelope)
After that, plots can be created to analyze a specific region.
In this case, planes will be used to analyze the mass balance in one of
the receiving conveyors.
Three planes were used, one to isolate the receiving conveyor and
another two to divide it in two parts.
Right click on Particles → Processes → Plane.
The first plane will be used to isolate

the receiving conveyor.
Coloring tab:
define “red” for node color;
Plane tab:
Define plane origin and normal using
coordinates below:
Plane Origin: (0, 0, 0)
Plane Normal: (0.11, 0.988, -0.11)
32
Right click on Plane 1 → Processes → Plane.
The second plane will be used to

divide the receiving conveyor into two
parts.
Coloring tab:
define “black” for node color;
Plane tab:
coordinates below:
Plane Normal: (0.7071, 0, 0.7071)
33
Right click on Plane 1 → Processes → Plane.
The third plane will be used to divide

the receiving conveyor into two parts.
Coloring tab:
define “green” for node color;
Plane tab:
coordinates below:
Plane Normal: (-0.7071, 0, -0.7071)
Obs.: This plane normal is just the opposite
from the previous one.
34
Remember to create planes below specific entities:
The entity related with a selected plane will appear in bold;

After planes are defined, Multi Time Plot can be created comparing the
particle mass on each side
35
Create a new Time Plot. Left click on Window → New Time Plot or use
the shortcut Ctrl + T.
For each plane (2 and 3), select Particle Mass → Sum:
There is a balance
difference between sides,
which can cause
operational problems on the
conveyor.
CONCLUSION
Rocky was used to study a case of transfer chute

The case was post processed using Rocky tools:
Animations;
Multi Time Plots;
Histograms;
User-process.

Workshop 01 - Transfer Chute

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Workshop 1 – Transfer Chute

The purpose of this workshop is to learn how to manipulate the Rocky -

Open Rocky-DEM. Look for Rocky-DEM in Program Menu or use

New Project Save Project

In this step, user is able to define

Right click in Geometry → Import →

Select the file “chute.stl” and save the

When importing a geometry file, a window is displayed where geometry

Repeat the procedure for the other geometry files

To visualize the freshly imported geometry, click and drag

After the geometries are imported, an inlet must be defined in order to

Define the inlet Name: Factory;

In this simulation we have 3 materials, so we need to define 3

Static Friction: 0.3

Static Friction: 0.5

Static Friction: 0.55

With this, a new Particle Group will be available to use.

Shape Type: Spherical

After defining all materials needed in the simulation, it is possible to

For “feed conveyor” and

Feed Conveyor Receiving Conveyor 1

Translational Movement Translational Movement

Right click in Input → Create Particle Input

In the Time Configuration Tab, define: Simulation Duration, Output

Particle states can be viewed in real

In this case, select “Absolute Translational

Click in Tools → Animation

Define the initial and final

Right click on one of the geometry

Specific variables for geometries and

After selecting a geometry entity or particles and selecting the variable

Particle Variables Geometry Variables

Click and drag the variable to the multi time plot;

Grid Functions variables: Variables that can be included in multi time

Particle Variables Geometry Variables

Using grid functions is possible to apply statistics functions to the

Particles Count (-) -

Particles In Count (-) -

Right click on Particles → Processes → Plane.

The first plane will be used to isolate

Right click on Plane 1 → Processes → Plane.

The second plane will be used to

Right click on Plane 1 → Processes → Plane.

The third plane will be used to divide

Remember to create planes below specific entities:

The entity related with a selected plane will appear in bold;

Rocky was used to study a case of transfer chute

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