Superquadric DEM Model Based on Functional Representations

The discrete element method (DEM), proposed by Cundall and Strack, has been shown to be a practical approach to studying various granular materials (Cundall and Strack in Géotechnique 29:47–65, 1979). In this approach, two-dimensional disks or three-dimensional spheres were initially employed because they enable simple calculation and efficient operation (Zhu et al. in Chem Eng Sci 62:3378–3396, 2007; Zhu et al. in Chem Eng Sci 63:5728–5770, 2008). However, the granular systems commonly encountered in industry or nature comprise non-spherical grains.