ASTM International’s soil and rock committee (D18) is developing a proposed standard that will be used to obtain parameters for discrete element method (DEM) calibration.

There are many practical applications for DEM. It can be used to simulate geological processes, such as landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. DEM can also be used to model industrial process equipment, spanning multiple sectors, including additive manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, biofuels, ceramics, chemical, defense, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), food, green energy, mining, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

“At present, DEM simulation is under-utilized in all these areas, due in no small part to the lack of a reliable, standardized methodology for the calibration of the models,” says ASTM member Kit Windows-Yule. “This lack of reliable best practice forms a major bottleneck, as well as a cause for concern that limits adoption and/or application.”

According to Windows-Yule, the proposed standard (WK93762) will provide an efficient, reliable method for calibrating DEM models.

“Importantly, the method in the proposed standard is highly automated and thus requires considerably less specialist knowledge than many currently used methodologies,” says Leonard Nicuşan, an ASTM D18 member who is also working on the proposed standard. “This will make DEM accessible to small and medium enterprises (SME) who do not have the resources to pay specialist staff.”

“The proposed standard will help diverse industries use a digital-first approach to improving their processes, thus making them more productive, more effective, more time-efficient, and less wasteful,” says Windows-Yule.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at JOIN ASTM.

To purchase standards, contact ASTM International customer relations (tel +1.877.909.ASTM; https://www.astm.org/contact).

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Supported: