Volume 99
您当前的位置:首页 > 期刊文章 > 过刊浏览 > Volumes 96-107 (2025) > Volume 99
Li, Y., & Jiang, H. (2025). Investigating rotational characteristics and contact mechanisms of star-like shapes using multiellipse-based DEM. Particuology, 99, 210-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2025.03.001
Investigating rotational characteristics and contact mechanisms of star-like shapes using multiellipse-based DEM
Yang Li a, Haoran Jiang b *
a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
b Civil Engineering Design Division, Kajima Corporation, 3-8, Motoakasaka, 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-8477, Japan
10.1016/j.partic.2025.03.001
Volume 99, April 2025, Pages 210-225
Received 16 January 2025, Revised 28 February 2025, Accepted 4 March 2025, Available online 13 March 2025, Version of Record 19 March 2025.
E-mail: jiangh@kajima.com

Highlights

• Biaxial compression of star-shaped particles with varying arm number and aspect ratio.

• Monotonic dependence of macroscopic shear strength and interlocking patterns on particle non-convexity.

• Non-monotonic dependence of packing fraction and particle rotation behavior on particle non-convexity.

• Distinct contact modes and features exhibited by highly non-convex particles.

• Competing role of particle interlocking and excluded volume effects.


Abstract

This study investigates the effect of non-convexity on the rotational characteristics and contact mechanisms of two-dimensional star-like shapes using multiellipse-based discrete element modeling (DEM). Biaxial shearing tests are conducted on star-shaped geometries with varying arm numbers and aspect ratios of the intersecting ellipses. The results indicate a non-monotonic relationship between overall particle rotation and increasing non-convexity, highlighting a more pronounced role of non-convexity in promoting local interlocking at particle contacts. Moreover, high non-convexity facilitates the formation of multiple contact points between interacting particles, which generally show higher stability than single-point contacts, except in the case of highly non-convex shapes. The geometric complexity introduced by non-convexity induces significant heterogeneity in the contact network and inter-particle force distributions. Finally, a spatial analysis of contact patterns reveals the coexistence of interlocking and excluded volume effects, where the alignment of the arms and valleys results in two distinct peaks in contact frequency and governs the initiation location of particle interactions. Meanwhile, the intermediate surfaces become less involved in particle contacts as non-convexity increases.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
Non-convexity; Star-like shape; Particle rotation; Contact behavior; DEM