Viscoelastic behavior in discrete element method realized by interparticle Maxwell-Zener model

The discrete element method describes the motion of granular structures numerically. Each particle is considered as a discrete element. Combining springs and dashpot for the normal contact forces, viscoelastic behavior represented by rheological models is realized via a nonlinear Maxwell–Zener model in a dynamic routine. For individual contacts and large particle structures, this model is compared to the Hertzian contact model for elastic behavior and studied with respect to rate dependence and the effect of model parameters.