Random packing of tetrahedral particles using the polyhedral discrete element method--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Zhao, S., Zhou, X., Liu, W., & Lai, C. (2015). Random packing of tetrahedral particles using the polyhedral discrete element method. Particuology, 23, 109-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2015.02.007

Random packing of tetrahedral particles using the polyhedral discrete element method

Shiwei Zhao ^{a b}, Xiaowen Zhou ^{a b *}, Wenhui Liu ^{a b}, Chengguang Lai ^c

a School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
b State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, Guangzhou 510640, China
c Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Water Security in Southern China of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou 510275, China

10.1016/j.partic.2015.02.007

Volume 23, December 2015, Pages 109-117

Received 8 December 2014, Revised 28 January 2015, Accepted 2 February 2015, Available online 14 July 2015, Version of Record 2 December 2015.

E-mail: xwzhou@scut.edu.cn

Highlights

• Random packing of tetrahedral particles was simulated using discrete element method.

• Effects of tetrahedron shape and sliding friction were taken into account in the model.

• DEM simulated packing densities were compared to results of geometry-based algorithm.

• DEM predicted much lower packing densities, indicating importance of mechanical forces in packing.

Abstract

The random packing of tetrahedral particles is studied by applying the discrete element method (DEM), which simulates the effects of friction, height ratio, and eccentricity. The model predictions are analyzed in terms of packing density and coordination number (CN). It is demonstrated that friction has the maximal effect on packing density and mean CN among the three parameters. The packing density of the regular tetrahedron is 0.71 when extrapolated to a zero friction effect. The shape effects of height ratio and eccentricity show that the regular tetrahedron has the highest packing density in the family of tetrahedra, which is consistent with what has been reported in the literature. Compared with geometry-based packing algorithms, the DEM packing density is much lower. This demonstrates that the inter-particle mechanical forces have a considerable effect on packing. The DEM results agree with the published experimental results, indicating that the polyhedral DEM model is suitable for simulating the random packing of tetrahedral particles.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Discrete element method; Random packing; Tetrahedral particleCoordination numberPacking density

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