Past, Present, and Future State of DEM at Astec

Dr. Andrew Hobbs, Director of Advanced Technologies at Astec Digital presents at the 2024 ATCx DEM.

Astec has been utilizing DEM (Discrete Element Method) for nearly two decades, witnessing significant advancements in the technology and its impact on equipment design. From early work with CFD-DEM coupling using serial CPU methods to cloud enabled multi-GPU DOE’s (design of experiments) of hundreds of design variations, Astec has seen DEM grow from fledgling technology to a crucial simulation tool. While the emergence of GPU technologies has enabled much of this growth, much work remains to address the complex physical phenomena in materials and processes essential for building roads and other vital infrastructure. From simulating crushing, sizing, drying, mixing, coating, and compacting DEM will continue to be an invaluable tool. In this presentation, we will review our progress and discuss the current gaps in DEM technologies, highlighting Astec’s vision for the future of DEM.