{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8531463","patent":{"patent_number":"US-8531463","title":"Method and apparatus for discrete element modeling with a virtual geometry object","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2009-08-10T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2013-09-10T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G06F","G06F","G06F","G06T","G06F","G06T","G06T"],"num_claims":15,"abstract":"One embodiment of the invention provides a computer-implemented method for discrete element modelling of a plurality of discrete elements corresponding to particles and physical geometry elements. The modelling performs a simulation through time of physical interactions of the particles with each other and with the physical geometry elements in a three-dimensional space. The method comprises providing a virtual geometry object comprising a user-defined shape. The virtual geometry object does not undergo physical interaction with the particles or physical geometry elements during the simulation. The method further comprises receiving user-defined parameters for determining the position, orientation and any movement of the virtual geometry object with respect to the three-dimensional space. The method further comprises locating the virtual geometry object in the three-dimensional space during the simulation in accordance with the user-defined parameters and identifying the particles, physical geometry elements and/or physical interactions having a particular relationship with respect to the virtual geometry object. The identified elements can then be analysed by the user, for example to determine the number of particles located at a given time within a specific region of the simulation space (as defined by the virtual geometry object)."},"analysis":{"summary":null,"layman_explanation":null,"technical_analysis":null,"business_analysis":null,"faqs":null,"topics":[],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Method and apparatus for discrete element modeling with a virtual geometry object","description":"One embodiment of the invention provides a computer-implemented method for discrete element modelling of a plurality of discrete elements corresponding to particles and physical geometry elements. The","keywords":[]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8531463","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8531463","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Method and apparatus for discrete element modeling with a virtual geometry object\" (US-8531463). https://patentable.app/patents/US-8531463","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-8531463","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-8531463","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T15:08:24.220Z"}