Itasca initially developed numerical modeling codes as tools to provide insight to its geomechanics consulting analyses. In time (and not long after), the capabilities of the software delineated new areas of application for consulting engineering. This interchange has been, ever since, absolutely fundamental to the growth of Itasca. It guides the direction of software development, and it continuously pushes our consulting practice to the leading edge. So it is no surprise to reflect that Itasca's emergence into the arena of Process Engineering is a consequence of the PFC codes' exceptionally broad applicability to engineering problems. I invite you to see the Consulting section below for details.

– Loren Lorig, Chief Executive Officer

Consulting

More than ten years ago, interest in PFC led a farm implement manufacturing company to contact Itasca about application of the code to simulate grain harvesting. In the ensuing decade, such requests have multiplied. Itasca now has years of experience with process engineering applications, a dedicated staff, and a growing number of clients in the area. Projects in this field are varied, demanding, and specific. Three recent examples illustrate.

The National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center on Structured Organic Particulate Systems has been studying the design of continuous powder mixers used to create uniform binary mixtures of powders used in the pharmaceutical industry. PFC3D was used to study the effect of impeller tip velocity Froude number on the efficiency of the mixing process. Preliminary findings confirm that optimal mixing is obtained at a Froude number of one where convected particles are at the threshold of free flight.

A major manufacturer of agricultural equipment was concerned with the effect of humidity on the efficiency of a soybean conveying system. Small-scale models could not be properly scaled-up to represent the true geometry of the equipment, leaving numerical simulation as the sole design tool. PFC3D was used to model changes in particle cohesion due to humidity and their effect on flow as particles are collected and conveyed by an inclined auger.

A major food processing and packaging company was concerned with the uniform coating of porous particles by a liquid spray. PFC3D and its powerful built-in programming language FISH were used to model the granular flow, the spray rate, and the rate at which each particle collects fluid from the spray and exchanges it with neighboring particles during mixing.

These images are frames from movies that appear in our gallery of process engineering applications modeled using PFC.

Software

FLAC3D 4.0 will be available as a pre-release starting September 1. This new version of FLAC3D contains a complete overhaul of the user interface, incorporation of accelerated 3D graphics, and efficiency enhancements that translate to program speed increases in a number of areas. In all, this version of FLAC3D is assured to provide a dramatically different user experience than its predecessors. We strongly encourage all current FLAC3D users to take the opportunity to acquaint themselves with this version, either by reviewing information about it online or by downloading the demo version. Both will be available on September 1 when the pre-release is made available.

Update Alert:
Current Versions
updated since
May 15, 2009:

International

Itasca Australia Pty Ltd. has moved. Please note the new contact information.

101/620 Collins Street
Melbourne, Victoria, 3000

Phone:
Fax:
Internet:

(+61) 3 9629 2542
(+61) 3 9629 2543
itasca@itasca.com.au (for general enquiries)
software@itasca.com.au (for software sales)
www.itascacg.com/software/support-form.php (for software support)

Training

In conjunction with partner Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp. (CTC), Itasca will be offering a special one-day training course on August 28, 2009. The course will provide an overview of industrial applications in process engineering featuring coupled fluid flow-particle interaction using PFC with the CCFD option. Jason Furtney from Itasca Consulting Group will cover the PFC3D portion of the training, and two instructors from CTC will provide detail on the use of CCFD to handle the computational fluid dynamics side. The course will be taught in Japanese and English at the offices of CTC in city, Japan. It is open to the public, anyone interested may attend. If you would like further information, please contact Thomas Iwasaki at CTC.

Conferences

Itasca Houston, Inc. will be exhibiting at ATCE 2009 (the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition). The conference runs from October 4-7 in New Orleans. ATCE is the energy and petroleum industry's premier technical conference, attended by more than 9,000 professionals annually. Itasca Houston will be represented by Marisela Sanchez and Ivan Gil. Will Petitt of ASC, who is presenting at the conference, will also be in attendance. If you have plans to be at ATCE, be sure to stop by booth #829 to say "hello."

Publications

Bäckström, A., Jonsson, M., Chistiansson, R., and Mas-Ivars, D. (2009) "Analysis of Factors That Affect and Controls the Excavation Disturbance/Deformation Zone in Crystalline Rock," in Rock Characterisation, Modelling and Engineering Design Methods (Proceedings, SINOROCK 2009, The University of Hong Kong, May 2009). Sponsored by International Society for Rock Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics & Engineering, The University of Hong Kong.

Furtney, J., P. Cundall and M. Torres. (2009) "Developments in the Numerical Modeling of Rock Blasting (Updates from the HSBM Project / NIOSH Collaboration)," presented at the SME 2009 (Denver, February 2009).

Konietzky, H., Heftenberger, A., and Feige, M. (2009) "Life-time prediction for rocks under static compressive and tensile loads: a new simulation approach" Acta Geotechnica 4:73-78.

Lorig, L., Watson, A., Martin, C., and Moore, D. (2009) "Rockslide Run-Out Prediction from Distinct Element Analysis," Geomech. Geoeng. Int. J., 4(1), 17-25 (March).

Thompson, B., R. P. Young and D. A. Lockner. (2009) "Premonitory Acoustic Emissions and Stick-Slip in Natural and Smooth-Faulted Westerly Granite," J. Geophys. Res., 114, B02205, doi:10.1029/2008JB005753.

Wang, Z.L., and Konietzky, H. (2009) "Modelling of blast-induced fractures in jointed rock masses" Engineering Fracture Mechanics 76 (2009) 1945-1955.

Wang, Z.L., Konietzky, H., and Shen, R.F. (2009) "Coupled finite element and discrete element method for underground blast in faulted rock masses" Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 29 (2009) 939-945.

Zhou, X. J., Zeng, Z., Belobraydic, M., and Han, Y. (2008) "Geomechanical Stability Assessment of Williston Basin Formations for Petroleum Production and CO2 Sequestration," in CD Proceedings, 42nd US Rock Mechanics Symposium and 2nd US-Canada Rock Mechanics Symposium (San Francisco, June-July 2008). Paper No. ARMA 08-211, D. Yale et al., Ed. Red Hook, New York: Curran Associates.

We realize you receive many emails throughout the day and that your time is valuable. You received this communication from Itasca because we believe it provides timely and useful information. We respect your privacy. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please reply to this email and enter "unsubscribe" on the subject line, or click here. Itasca International Inc., 111 Third Avenue South, Suite 450, Minneapolis, MN 55401, United States.