Molecular dynamics simulation of complex particles in three dimensions and the study of friction due to nonconvexity

We investigate the macroscopic properties of frictionless nonconvex particles using molecular dynamics. The calculations are based on a simple and efficient method to simulate complex-shaped interacting bodies. The particle shape is represented by Minkowski operators. A multicontact time-continuous interaction between bodies is derived using simple concepts of computational geometry. Three-dimensional simulations of hopper flow show that the nonconvexity of the particles strongly affects the jamming on granular flow. Also the model allows the representation of complex bodies with rough surfaces as in friction studies and the reproduction of a wide range of friction and dilatancy angles as in true triaxial tests.