MSS is an algorithm to determine the radii and positions of spheres that fill a given volume. In the context of granular materials, MSS is a particle generator for DEM simulations of complex-shaped particles. Here, each particle of a given shape is represented by a set of spheres that collectively approximate the particle. This technique of particle shape representation is often referred to as the multi-sphere approach. We show that, for a given number of spheres, MSS provides a closer approximation to the target shape at lower computational costs than other DEM multi-sphere particle generators reported in the literature. • Introduces MSS, a new algorithm for multi-sphere representation of complex particles. • Achieves higher shape accuracy with fewer spheres than existing generators. • Preserves geometric symmetries and avoids artificial surface roughness. • Demonstrates lower computational cost in benchmarks against existing algorithms.
Buchele et al. (Fri,) studied this question.