The Contact Dynamics (CD) Method, as a Discrete Element Method for the simulation of granular asteroids

Discrete Element Method aim to model the collective behavior of a media composed of distinct interacting particles, and constitute a significant support to experimentation in the sense that they give us access to informations that are difficult to obtain experimentally. Discrete element methods can be classified into two main families: 1) Non Smooth approaches based on non-regular mechanics that take into account shocks without grain interpenetration; and 2) Smooth approaches allowing grains interpenetration. Here, we aim to introduce the Non-smooth Contact Dynamics method, its implementation in LMGC90, as a class of Non Smooth approach, to the Planetary Sciences community. We apply the CD method to model the accretion of spherical and polyhedral particles, and we discuss on the numerical efficiency of the CD method for modeling granular asteroids.