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Systemic characterization and evaluation of particle packings as initial sets for discrete element simulations

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Abstract

A methodology that comprises several characterization properties for particle packings is proposed in this paper. The methodology takes into account factors such as dimension and shape of particles, space occupation, homogeneity, connectivity and isotropy, among others. This classification and integration of several properties allows to carry out a characterization process to systemically evaluate the particle packings in order to guarantee the quality of the initial meshes in discrete element simulations, in both the micro- and the macroscales. Several new properties were created, and improvements in existing ones are presented. Properties from other disciplines were adapted to be used in the evaluation of particle systems. The methodology allows to easily characterize media at the level of the microscale (continuous geometries—steels, rocks microstructures, etc., and discrete geometries) and the macroscale. A global, systemic and integral system for characterizing and evaluating particle sets, based on fuzzy logic, is presented. Such system allows researchers to have a unique evaluation criterion based on the aim of their research. Examples of applications are shown.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are deeply grateful to the valuable funding, resources and support of the following institutions and people:

\(\bullet \) Brazilian agency for the improvement of higher education personnel (CAPES). Project No. 208/13 and National Post-doctorate Program.

\(\bullet \) International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), Barcelona, Spain.

\(\bullet \) Professor Manuel Llanes Abeijón, for his valuable revision of the use of English in the original version of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Computational Mechanics and Numerical Methods in Engineering, CIMNE-UCLV Classroom, Central University of Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba

    Carlos Recarey Morfa, Irvin Pablo Pérez Morales & Roberto Roselló Valera

  2. Faculty of Technology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

    Carlos Recarey Morfa

  3. Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, Central University of Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba

    Lucía Argüelles Cortés

  4. Faculty of Technology and Director of InfraLab, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

    Márcio Muniz de Farias

  5. Director of the International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Politechnical University of Catalonya, Barcelona, Spain

    Eugenio Oñate

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  1. Carlos Recarey Morfa
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  2. Lucía Argüelles Cortés
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  3. Márcio Muniz de Farias
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  4. Irvin Pablo Pérez Morales
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Correspondence to Irvin Pablo Pérez Morales.

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Morfa, C.R., Cortés, L.A., Farias, M.M.d. et al. Systemic characterization and evaluation of particle packings as initial sets for discrete element simulations. Comp. Part. Mech. 5, 319–334 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-017-0171-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-017-0171-6

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