A note on the generation of periodic granular microstructures based on grain size distributions

Meier, H.A., Kuhl, E. and Steinmann, P. (2008) A note on the generation of periodic granular microstructures based on grain size distributions. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 32(5), pp. 509-522. (doi: 10.1002/nag.635)

Abstract

This short communication discusses an algorithm suited for the generation of periodic microstructures of granular media. Its particular features are a user-defined grain size distribution, a representative volume element which is intrinsically periodic ab initio and a user-defined termination criterion, controlled by an increase of volume fraction. For low densities our particle packings resemble fluids or gases, while we aim to reach for rather dense particle packings, similar to granular solids. The generated microstructures can thus be readily incorporated into large multiscale simulations, e.g. on the integration point level of a finite element analysis of a particular sand or concrete. The individual grain size distribution of the granular medium is incorporated through the introduction of different growth rates governing the final particle size distribution. We briefly sketch the generation of the representative volume element within a serial event-driven scheme and demonstrate how periodic boundary conditions are ensured throughout the representative volume element generation process. The potential of the suggested algorithm will be illustrated through the generation of two different periodic multi-disperse microstructures. They are based on different given grain size distributions, one for a quartz sand with a low non-uniformity index and one for concrete aggregates classified as A32 by the German standard norm DIN 1045 to have a rather large variation in grain size.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Steinmann, Professor Paul
• Authors: Meier, H.A., Kuhl, E., and Steinmann, P.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
• Journal Name: International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0363-9061
• ISSN (Online): 1096-9853

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