Use of a physics toolbox to simulate aggregate packings

Abstract In this paper, an impulse-based Discrete Element numerical Method (iDEM) included in a physics toolbox, has been used to compact virtual aggregates. Firstly, geometrical properties, such as area, aspect ratio, perimeter, minor and major feret, circularity and roundness, of eleven types of coarse aggregates were measured. Then, a mass of each of these aggregates was compacted under vibration. The aggregate packings’ properties, such as aggregate segregation and orientation, porosity, pore -diameter, -tortuosity, -connectivity, -aspect ratio, -circularity, and -vertical distribution, were measured from Computed Tomography scans. Secondly, the aggregates were simulated using a Perlin noise in spherical primitives, which adjusted their geometry until they achieved realistic morphologies and gradations. iDEM detects contacts between complex shapes, including concavities, and computes the interaction between large amounts of complex objects. Results show that the properties from the packing experiments and simulations are highly comparable. This paper demonstrates the capacity of the physics toolbox to simulate granular materials effectively.