Watch the complete tutorial
The video is the primary learning resource for this page. Use the structured notes below to track the workflow, validation points and research extensions while you follow the demonstration.
What you will learn
- Create the hopper geometry, particle population and granular material properties for a DEM study.
- Define particle-particle and particle-wall contact, gravity, outlet conditions and time-dependent simulation settings.
- Extract mass-flow rate, particle velocity, residence/discharge behaviour and contact-force information.
- Validate the simulated discharge trend against the Beverloo relationship and discuss deviations caused by geometry or particle assumptions.
Tutorial roadmap
- Hopper geometry and particle seeding — follow this stage in the video and record the important assumptions, settings and outputs so the workflow can be reproduced.
- DEM contact properties — follow this stage in the video and record the important assumptions, settings and outputs so the workflow can be reproduced.
- Time-dependent discharge setup — follow this stage in the video and record the important assumptions, settings and outputs so the workflow can be reproduced.
- Mass-flow and particle-result extraction — follow this stage in the video and record the important assumptions, settings and outputs so the workflow can be reproduced.
- Beverloo validation — follow this stage in the video and record the important assumptions, settings and outputs so the workflow can be reproduced.
- Sensitivity to outlet size and particle properties — follow this stage in the video and record the important assumptions, settings and outputs so the workflow can be reproduced.
Model, software and prerequisites
This tutorial is associated with COMSOL 6.4 and the DEM & Granular Flow technical area. Before reproducing the workflow, confirm the software version, required modules or toolboxes, source data, material/physical parameters and any external dependencies shown in the tutorial.
For research use, keep a short parameter table while following the video. This makes later sensitivity analysis, troubleshooting and thesis documentation much easier.
Validation and results to check
The recommended validation evidence includes mesh-convergence trend, solver convergence, primary field extrema, derived global values. The strongest validation comes from repeating identical test cases for the reference and proposed methods, then explaining why the measured differences occur. The final discussion should also explain sensitivity to parameter or material variation, critical load/flow/field condition.
- Primary field distribution — connect the output to a defined case, parameter setting and acceptance or comparison metric.
- Derived global / point values — connect the output to a defined case, parameter setting and acceptance or comparison metric.
- Geometry or parameter sweep — connect the output to a defined case, parameter setting and acceptance or comparison metric.
- Mesh / solver convergence evidence — connect the output to a defined case, parameter setting and acceptance or comparison metric.
- Comparison of operating or design cases — connect the output to a defined case, parameter setting and acceptance or comparison metric.
How engineering scholars can extend this tutorial
The tutorial is a starting point rather than a substitute for a research contribution. For thesis or journal-oriented work, retain the verified baseline and extend it with a clearly stated limitation, new method and quantitative comparison.
- design-of-experiments or surrogate-assisted optimization
- mesh- and parameter-uncertainty quantification
- multiphysics coupling beyond the baseline case
- validation against analytical, experimental or published reference data
Global learning and research use
This weekly tutorial series is organized for engineering scholars working across universities and research programs worldwide, including learners in France, Malaysia, UAE, Canada, USA, India and UK and other regions. The emphasis is on reproducible modelling, transparent assumptions and technically defensible interpretation.
Related research articles
Use these articles when you want to move from tutorial learning toward a deeper project, thesis or research methodology.
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Questions about this tutorial
Who is this tutorial for?
This tutorial is designed for engineering students, postgraduate scholars, PhD researchers and technical learners who want a reproducible workflow rather than only a final result.
What should I verify while following the tutorial?
Record the software version, model or workflow assumptions, key parameters, solver or training settings, operating cases and the quantitative outputs used to confirm that the result is technically consistent.
Can this tutorial be extended into thesis or research work?
Yes. Use the tutorial as a baseline, then define a literature-supported limitation, add a measurable modification, test sensitivity or stressed conditions and compare the result against the same baseline assumptions.