Pysammos 1.0.0: a discrete-to-continuum transformation Python tool to analyse the rheology of granular materials

There are many phenomena in nature, like landslides, and in industry, like the production of concrete, that demonstrate granular flow processes. While some of these processes have been studied extensively, there are still many challenges associated with understanding the behaviors involving granules and fluids in the process. A comprehensive description of granular mechanics at small scales is commonly done using software that combines the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The output of these simulations provides the data of the highest temporal and spatial resolution for interactions between particles and fluids, which are essential for developing constitutive models that capture the correct bulk rheology of granular materials.

A significant effort is required to extract continuum fields from particle scale discrete datasets, which is done by employing a D2C (Discrete to Continuum) process known as coarse-graining. While some DEM packages offer D2C processing, MFiX-DEM is among the majority that do not, thereby forcing users to create custom D2C processes or manipulate the data from the run for the results to be compatible with D2C processing. This paper provides a detailed description of a Python package that performs discrete to continuum transformations. This new tool will help in understanding the rheology of granular materials by providing a quick, standardized, and refined method for processing outputs from DEM simulations. It

will greatly enhance the understanding and the ability to model complex granular flows.

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