Chapter 1: Software Overview

Rocky is a 3D Discrete Element Method (DEM) modeling program that simulates how a set of particles interact with other particles and the various boundaries that represent the conveyor chute, mill, mixer, plow, coater or other kind of bulk materials handling equipment being analyzed.

Engineers use Rocky to test and adjust geometries based upon the metrics Rocky provides. In this way, Rocky helps manufacturing organizations:

  • Increase equipment life and capacity

  • Eliminate blockages, and belt and liner punctures

  • Reduce power draw, dust, and noise

  • Decrease spillage and product degradation

  • Enhance mixing; minimize dead zones and segregation

  • Evaluate scale-up strategies

  • Predict force, torque, and power consumption

  • Analyze structural loads by coupling with FEA

  • Simulate fluid-granular interactions by coupling with CFD

To learn more about DEM, refer to the following resources:

This section includes the following topics: