ESSS Rocky DEM 4.4.2

The ESSS product team (part of CADFEM) is pleased to announce the availability of Rocky DEM 4.4. In this release delivers a totally new Solver Application Programming Interface (Solver API) based on the most-recent technology for customization and user experience integration. The result delivers unique usability, portability and, above all, solver performance.

What’s different in Rocky DEM 4.4’s Solver API?

User experience
All models implemented with the Solver API also modify and extend the setup and post-processing software interface. In the setup stage, to enter custom model input parameters, the software dynamically generates a visual interface; in the post-processing stage, all new custom variables are automatically available for detailed analysis. This enables seamless deployment of custom models built by experts, all across the corporation.

A single code for both multi-CPU & multi-GPU solvers
The Solver API provides a unified approach so users can program models by enabling just one single code to be compatible with both Rocky DEM solver technologies. This substantially reduces the cost involved in maintaining custom routines or learning complex GPU programming techniques.

No performance degradation
Custom models implemented using the Solver API run as fast as original embedded models. Rocky DEM provides a true application programming interface, and not just a “set of function hooks”. Users can implement their own models using the same structure and logics from embedded models, all without code virtualization or memory overhead.

The new Solver API in Rocky DEM 4.4 is C++ based, and it enables many new physics to be implemented — such as new contact and joint models, particle properties, body forces, and custom scalars.



Rocky DEM and Ansys CFD integration to study the drying process in a tablet coater using custom heat and mass transfer models.

Other Rocky DEM 4.4 new functionalities include a custom particle input, the ability to freeze elements, and a user definition of center of mass and moment of inertia, with a focus on solid particles with complex shapes and high aspect ratios. Also, a new cylindrical periodic boundary condition is included as well as several other improvements.


Vacuum cleaner and carpet model using Ansys CFD and Rocky DEM integration. Bristles modeled using new features such as custom injections and fiber particles with frozen elements.

By adding our new C++ Solver API together with the existing Python-based API for workflow automation, Rocky DEM 4.4 redefines what API means by delivering best-in-class functionality to customers who need flexibility without compromising performance.


ROCKY DEM allows precise prediction of the particle behavior of granular and liquid systems by analyzing media flows, energy absorption rates and particle breakage. Wherever large quantities of particles and bodies are set into motion in bulk, mixing, slipping or flow processes regardless of their size, shape, material or adhesion, ROCKY can help to understand and improve the processes.

These are, on the one hand, measures for optimizing the movement of the mass, for example to minimize material losses or to prevent or suppress dust formation. On the other hand, the results provide important information for efficiently designing peripheral products, for example to increase the service life of conveyor belts and other components.

ROCKY DEM optimizes, among other things, agitator mills, SAG mills, crushers and high-pressure grinding rollers, the particle spectrum ranges from small synthetic parts such as tablets to gravel.

With ROCKY for ANSYS particle simulation can be extended with important structural and flow-mechanical information. These are achieved by a complete integration in ANSYS Workbench. The compact and user-friendly user interface of ROCKY for ANSYS ensures uncomplicated installation and operation. CAD geometries can also be imported easily and quickly.

Rocky DEM provides decisive insight into granular flow behavior with accurate particle representation.


ESSS. the largest engineering company in South America specializing in numerical simulations, ANSYS ELITE Channel Partner and TechNet Alliance member, joined CADFEM closely.

Product: ESSS Rocky DEM
Version: 4.4.2
Supported Architectures: x64
Website Home Page : https://rocky.esss.co/
Language: english
System Requirements: PC *
Size: 438.3 mb