I, Prof. Bernhard Peters, am a leading figure in computational multiphysics and the pioneer of the Extended Discrete Element Method (XDEM). My work fundamentally advanced discrete element modeling by extending classical DEM to account for thermal, chemical, and mass-transfer processes within individual particles, enabling fully coupled simulations of reacting particulate systems.

Through XDEM, I bridged particle-scale physics with continuum methods such as CFD and FEM, making it possible to model complex industrial processes—including combustion, gasification, drying, and metallurgical operations—with unprecedented physical fidelity. My research has been instrumental in moving DEM from purely mechanical descriptions to true multiphysics particle modeling.

My contributions have had a lasting impact on both academia and industry, shaping modern approaches to particle-resolved simulations and establishing XDEM as a cornerstone method for coupled DEM–CFD–FEM frameworks.