Quantification of the contribution ratio of relevant input parameters on DEM-based granular flow simulations

•Contributions of DEM parameters on run-out distance are quantified.•Contribution ratio of spring coefficient and friction angle between elements are relatively low.•The bottom friction and coefficient of restitution are the main factors affecting the run-out distance.•The coefficient of restitution has a significantly greater effect in the front part. Granular flow is affected by multiple parameters, which makes its study challenging. The discrete element method (DEM) is widely employed to simulate granular flow in consideration of particle motion, particularly when the effects of related parameters and particle shape on flow characteristics are being studied. In this study, different combinations of four input parameters (spring coefficient, friction angle between elements, coefficient of restitution, and bottom friction) were first obtained with the help of the Latin hypercube sampling method. Then, a series of simulations were performed using DEM with different sets of input parameters in consideration of different particle shapes and contact models. Radial basis function (RBF) interpolation was then employed to construct a response surface of run-out distance. Monte Carlo simulations were also conducted to obtain the contribution ratio of each input parameter. The result revealed that the bottom friction has a significant influence on the run-out distance, while friction angle between elements and spring coefficient account for a small proportion in the contribution ratio. Moreover, it was confirmed that the coefficient of restitution has a considerable contribution ratio in the front part of elements. The results also revealed that the influence of the particle shape and contact model on the contribution ratio was not as important in comparison.