Description: The objective of this minisymposium is to provide an exposition of the development and practice on the application of discrete element method in engineering problems. Contributions highlighting the application of discrete element method in materials, structure, and advanced multi-phase material modeling are particularly welcome. Topics of interest include, but not limited to:

• Discrete element model verification
• Methods for determining discrete element model parameters
• Coupling of discrete element with continuum models
• Multi-phase or composite material (such as concrete) modeling
• Constitutive modeling of materials, especially heterogonous materials
• Modeling of permanent deformation, fatigue cracking, low temperature cracking using discrete element
• Rigid pavement and flexible pavement modeling and analysis
• Modeling of vehicle-pavement interaction
• Modeling of stress-dependent material
• Use of DEM in teaching granular mechanics and engineering courses
• Other topics related to the application of discrete element method in engineering problems