anyone doing discrete element + fluid?

George Bergantz

Does anyone have experience trying to combine a discrete element approach with a more general fluid code? Discrete elements are a basically Lagrangian approach (*not* the same as lattice gas or lattice Boltzmann) used to model displacements in granular materials such as in geotechnical applications. I am unaware (and likley just misinformed) if there has been an effort to extend this to a more general multiphase 'combined' approach where the domain can have regions of pure fluid with N-S characteristics and regions with particles, etc. that organize themselves dynamically.

I already know about the marker-in-cell approach, discrete elements have distinct advantages over that.

Advice or experience anyone?