Highlights

The authors are grateful to John Williams, Colin Thornton, Graham Mustoe and Paul Cleary with whom some of these results have been discussed. They also wish to thank Anya Davis and David Hawkins for their assistance with the experiments. The research was supported by EPSRC grant GR/L93454 "The Packing of Rock Fragments".

Keywords Finite element analysis, Experimentation

Abstract The combined finite-discrete element method has been used to simulate the gravitational depositions of packs containing particles of cubical shape. This approach to the generation of particle packs is based on the simulation of the dynamics of pack formation including interaction among individual particles, inertia and gravitational forces. The results of such an approach are compared to the experimental results to evaluate both feasibility and accuracy of the combined finite-discrete element simulation of packing problems.

1. Introduction

The study of particle packing and porosity in particulate systems is of great scientific and industrial importance. For example, in geotechnical engineering of soils and rockfill, mining and mineral engineering and in powder technology, the space filling properties of the particles tend to dominate the engineering behaviour. Particulate flow, resistance to shear and compaction, and the void networks created within the solid skeleton of a pack...