An algorithm for detecting inter-ellipsoid contacts

Abstract An inter-ellipsoid contact detection algorithm was developed and used for simulating the behaviour of assemblies of ellipsoid-shaped particles using the well-known discrete element method (DEM). The contact algorithm was implemented in the modified version of the DEM program TRUBAL originally written to simulate the behaviour of assemblies of spheres. The modified program was used to perform deviatoric and axisymmetric compression tests on a 1000 prolate spheroid assembly in periodic space. The obtained stress–strain–dilation curves conform with the experimental evidence both qualitatively and quantitatively.