In a material-handling simulation project, especially when a team is working with new materials, data is key. Gathering thorough data about the material, and the system itself, before a single simulation is run allows you to have the best starting place for design. Understanding the flow of material through the system, wear patterns, velocities and critical material variables allows you to create a working model. Optimizing the model that has been created takes place as you collect more data and ensure the model that was designed fits the reality of the current system in place. Once the model has been calibrated to match reality it can be applied to the project design efforts.
The trial and error process involved in effective material handling engineering can be daunting. Dozens of testing and simulation iterations, often with long simulation rendering times, mean that the process must be completed in a way conducive to meeting tight deadlines. Because of the time-sensitive nature of most projects, Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) simulations become as much art as science, requiring educated decisions on what to simulate and test. Materials may have variable conditions, such as varying water content depending on uncontrollable environmental variables. Understanding this reality and accounting for it in the model is only possible with accurate data gathering coupled with repeated simulations. Some materials may have critical limitations on some variables, where the material is damaged or destroyed by excessive force, heat or some other environmental condition. Calculating these variables in the design process can only be only possible with adequate data-gathering efforts.
No model, or dataset, is infallible. Even with years of experience in DEM or engineering for a certain material-set, optimizing designs with additional data from the project system is a key aspect of effective material handling engineering. This process of constant iteration drives effective system models and efficient engineering design.
Acensium brings decades of material handling engineering and project risk management experience coupled with cutting-edge laser scanning and 3D analysis tools to deliver engineering services to both industrial and commercial clients. Acensium is an effective partner for engineering design and laser-scanning services because we approach each job as a unique task with a defined set of requirements. There are no cookie cutter solutions that work 100% of the time. Knowing this, Acensium leverages experience and data to deliver concrete analysis on every project.
