MercuryDPM
MercuryDPM is an open source code for discrete particle simulations, designed to simulate the motion of particles or atoms by applying forces and torques from external body forces, such as gravity or magnetic fields, and from particle interaction laws. For granular particles, these forces are typically contact forces, including elastic, plastic, viscous, and frictional interactions, while molecular simulations can use interaction potentials such as Lennard-Jones. MercuryDPM is written as a versatile, object-oriented C++ code and is built to be understandable, flexible, and extensible for researchers and engineers who need to create new simulation models. It is developed extensively for granular applications, while remaining adaptable to other particle-based systems and long-range interactions. Its documentation guides users through installation, running simulations, visualization, analysis, and creating new MercuryDPM codes to model systems of their choice.
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MFiX
MFiX, or Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges, is an open source multiphase flow solver and NETL’s flagship suite of computational fluid dynamics tool for modeling reacting multiphase flows. It has become a standard for comparing, implementing, and evaluating multiphase flow constitutive models, and has been applied to a diverse range of multiphase flow devices and industrial systems. MFiX provides multiple modeling approaches, including a Two-Fluid Model, Discrete Element Model, Coarse-Grained Particle DEM, Superquadric Particle DEM, Glued-Sphere Particle DEM, Particle-in-Cell model, hybrid methods, and a single-phase solver for pure granular flows. These models can be used to simulate gasifiers, circulating fluidized bed combustors, fluidized beds, fluid catalytic crackers, chemical looping combustion systems, and other particle-fluid systems involving hydrodynamics, heat transfer, species transport, and chemical reactions.
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Ansys Rocky
Ansys Rocky is a particle dynamics simulation software that uses the discrete element method (DEM) to model and analyze the behavior of granular materials and particle flows. The platform enables engineers to simulate realistic particle shapes, including non-spherical particles, fibers, shells, and complex material interactions. Ansys Rocky leverages multi-GPU processing technology to accelerate large-scale simulations while maintaining high levels of accuracy. The software includes advanced capabilities such as wear prediction, particle breakage modeling, cohesion analysis, CFD coupling, FEA coupling, and multibody dynamics simulation. Engineers can use the platform to study particle movement, material handling, mixing, separation, and equipment performance across a wide range of industries.
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Particleworks
Particleworks is particle-based CAE and CFD software for simulating liquid and multiphase flows using the Moving Particle Simulation method. Its mesh-less solver and intuitive interface make the simulation process simple and fast, even for complex geometries with moving parts such as transmissions, electric motors, internal combustion engines, and other industrial systems. Unlike conventional mesh-based CFD, Particleworks discretizes the fluid domain automatically with particles, eliminating complex mesh generation and making it easier to analyze free-surface flow, splashing, sloshing, spraying, mixing, lubrication, cooling, oil behavior, water interaction, and highly viscous fluids. It provides one-stop GUI operation from pre-processing through post-processing, helping engineers set up models, run simulations, visualize results, and evaluate performance in a streamlined workflow.
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