Selection of material for X-ray tomography analysis and DEM simulations: comparison between granular materials of biological and non-biological origins

Physical properties and X-ray tomography images of five different granular materials: glass bead, glass grit, short grain white rice, sorghum and clay granules (Seramis) are investigated to select the most promising materials for numerical simulations and time-lapse X-ray tomography imaging. The examined materials represent granular materials of non-biological origin (glass bead, glass grit and Seramis) and granular plant materials (rice and sorghum). The choice of materials was dictated by their mechanical and packing properties, on one hand, and 3D imaging qualities of granular materials and quantitative particle shape analysis, on the other hand. It was found that materials of biological origin, i.e. rice and sorghum, showed promising characteristics and may be considered as the most appropriate materials for comparison between time-lapse X-ray tomography experiments and numerical simulation.