Granuleworks Features

User Interface

Granuleworks’ intuitive user interface can handle an entire simulation, from pre-processing through post-processing. You don’t have to be an expert to edit simulation parameters or keep track of multiple projects.

The 3D view window features ultra-fast, high quality OpenGL rendering optimized for large-scale simulation with millions of particles. The window system is highly customizable, letting you compare multiple result side by side. Both Windows and Linux are supported.

GPU/CPU High Performance Computing

Granuleworks is optimized for the latest CPU/GPU architectures. The latest version of Granuleworks 1.1 supports the NVIDIA Volta generation GPU platform CUDA9.1, the world's most powerful GPU architecture, developed as a computing engine for computational science and data science. This provides an additional performance boost to Granuleworks' calculation speed.

Applications

Mixing

By using Granuleworks, you can conduct effective evaluation of degree of mixing and quantitative estimation of degree of mixing for powder with particle size distribution.

Conveying

Granuleworks can be used to evaluate the amount of powder transport, improve the transportation device, and optimize the transport conditions, as it enables to accurately reproduce the repose angle, bulk density, etc., by using the rotational resistance model. In addition, application to vibration transfer is also possible by forcing the device to move.

Filling

Granuleworks can simulate filling processes which were difficult to handle with conventional methods (FEM, etc.), by using the polygon movement setting. It can be used for stress distribution, uniformity of bulk density, optimization of processing conditions, etc.

SDEM（Scalable DEM）

A technique that reduces the number of particles and improves calculation speeds by replacing multiple original particles in a granular system by large particles (coarse-grained particles) is called coarse-graining technology. SDEM (Scalable DEM), which is one of the course-graining technologies, is implemented in Granuleworks. By using SDEM, bulk density can be considered in scale particles and setting parameters at one scale, will give similar behavior at other scales. It demonstrates power in DEM simulation of actual machines, as it supports particle size distribution, as well as rolling resistance model and van der Waals force.

Powder behavior simulation in a rotational container

Coupled Simulation with Particleworks

Powder and liquid flow

Prometech’s Granuleworks enables you to simulate complex phenomena such as mixing and stirring, in addition to mechanical conveying possesses. By combining Granuleworks’ DEM (Discrete Element Method) and Particleworks’ MPS (Moving Particle Simulation), you can simulate the motion of powder particles in fluids.

Coupled Simulation with RecurDyn

Motion and powder coupling

By combining Granuleworks with RecurDyn, a Multi Body Dynamics Simulation software of FunctionBay, Inc., it is possible to simulate the powder behavior in consideration of the motion of the mechanism according to reality. Sending the mechanical model behavior (position and velocity information) calculated by RecurDyn to Granuleworks, and returning the powder simulation results (powder force) from Granuleworks back to RecurDyn, realizes a bidirectional coupling analysis of both motion and powder.

Visualization Option [Optional Product]

Visualization Option is an optional program that converts the simulation results of Particleworks and Granuleworks into a general-purpose CG format and enables CG editing and rendering using CG software. It streamlines visualization from CAE simulation results and accelerates video creation and XR (VR / AR / MR) content development.

Particleworks Simulation Result; Stirring of Oil around Planetary Gears

The Rendered CG Image by Unity

Converting Simulation Results to CG Formats Compatible with Various Software

Using Visualization Option, you can import simulation results to Digital Content Creation tools such as Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, as well as game engines like Unity, Unreal Engine, and so on. The data size can be optimized using the function to reduce particle/surface polygons.

Intuitive GUI for Settings and Data Conversion

Original (left) and Reduced(right) Surface Polygons

Photoreal Visualization Made Easy for Analysts

Visualization Option Version1.0 comes with a program (Visualization Option for Unity) that enables video rendering and content output easily from Unity. It automatically imports simulation results and sets up the scene environment, timelines, cameras, and lights. You can set the textures by merely selecting from the basic material library equipped with Visualization Option. Even if you are not familiar with CG software or content editing, you can create photorealistic rendering and video output with ease using Visualization Option for Unity.

Material Library

Creating XR Content Directly from Simulation Results

You can create XR (VR / AR / MR) contents by loading simulation results into Unity or Unreal Engine. Some of the latest CG technologies such as physically-based rendering that precisely expresses realistic textures and NVIDIA RTX (real-time ray tracing) that enables accurate reflection and refraction are available for visualizing simulation results.