NASA
Selects DEM's EDEM for Model Lunar Dust, Regolith
 LEBANON,
NH, May 1, 2008 - DEM Solutions, a world leader in discrete element modeling
software, has been awarded a significant new contract in support of NASA’s
exploration technology programs. DEM Solutions will collaborate with
scientists and engineers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to add new
modeling capabilities to DEM Solutions’ EDEM software, enabling NASA’s Dust
Mitigation and In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) programs to model the
unique physical and electrostatic characteristics of lunar and martian dust
and rock (regolith) in the design of new technologies for dust mitigation,
and excavation, handling and processing of granular material under low
gravity conditions.
EDEM is an advanced DEM (Discrete Element Method) software used
for the simulation, analysis, and visualization of particulate
solids handling and processing operations across a broad range of
industries. It provides a powerful, but easy-to-use tool for
engineers to model the complex behavior of industrial particulate
processes and obtain high-resolution information on bulk particle
flow and interactions with equipment and surrounding media. It is
used to evaluate and improve particle handling equipment and process
design through testing of virtual prototypes so saving time and cost
in physical testing and increasing product quality and reliability.
Under a previous contract, DEM Solutions engineers successfully
teamed with the Electrostatics and Surface Physics laboratory at the
KSC to develop advanced electrostatic models in EDEM for simulation
of tribocharging of particles in contact with charged surfaces. The
new contract will continue the enhancement EDEM software to meet
NASA’s advanced modeling needs in the area of particle
electrostatics and interactions with electric and magnetic fields as
well as handling and processing of lunar regolith. DEM Solutions
engineers will contribute to the Dust Mitigation program, which is
developing technologies for removal of dust from lunar equipment,
such as optical and thermal radiator surfaces, connectors, and
seals, and with the ISRU program, which is developing technologies
for processing lunar regolith to generate oxygen and other raw
materials necessary for long-term survival on the moon.
Dr. John Favier, CEO of DEM Solutions, commented:
“We are delighted to be continuing our collaboration with NASA
and contributing to development of technologies in support of their
lunar program. This project will further extend the capabilities of
our EDEM software to provide more accurate models of particle
electrostatics and interactions with electric and magnetic fields
which are critical to effective simulation of handling and
processing of highly charged lunar dust and regolith.”
About DEM Solutions
DEM Solutions partners with their customers to improve their
products and processes by simulating and analyzing operations at the
particle scale. First released in 2005, EDEM software is now used in
the design and analysis of particulate handling, processing, and
manufacturing operations in almost every industry sector and
engineering discipline. EDEM provides companies with a tool to
substantially reduce the number of physical prototypes and tests
required to get a product to market or a process on-stream. It is
used to help trouble-shoot difficult particulate processes and,
because it is physics-based, it can greatly improve understanding of
system fundamentals leading to better product and process design and
innovation.
DEM Solutions’ corporate headquarters are located in Edinburgh,
Scotland with offices in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA and sales
offices and distributor representation worldwide.
For more information, visit
www.dem-solutions.com.
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Source: Material used in press releases is often supplied by external
sources and used as is.
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