Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A computational investigation on random packings of sphere-spherocylinder mixtures

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Science China Physics, Mechanics and Astronomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Random packings of binary mixtures of spheres and spherocylinders with the same volume and the same diameter were simulated by a sphere assembly model and relaxation algorithm. Simulation results show that, independently of the component volume fraction, the mixture packing density increases and then decreases with the growth of the aspect ratio of spherocylinders, and the packing density reaches its maximum at the aspect ratio of 0.35. With the same volume particles, results show that the dependence of the mixture packing density on the volume fraction of spherocylinders is approximately linear. With the same diameter particles, the relationship between the mixture packing density and component volume fraction is also roughly linear for short spherocylinders, but when the aspect ratio of spherocylinders is greater than 1.6, the curves turn convex which means the packing of the mixture can be denser than either the sphere or spherocylinder packing alone. To validate the sphere assembly model and relaxation algorithm, binary mixtures of spheres and random packings of spherocylinders were also simulated. Simulation results show the packing densities of sphere mixtures agree with previous prediction models and the results of spherocylinders correspond with the simulation results in literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Weitz D A. Packing in the spheres. Science, 2004, 303(5660): 968–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Williams S R, Philipse A P. Random packings of spheres and spherocylinders simulated by mechanical contraction. Phys Rev E, 2003, 67(5): 051301

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Charlles R A, Frederico W T, Marcelo C. Influence of particle shape on the packing and on the segregation of spherocylinders via Monte Carlo simulations. Powder Tech, 2003, 134(1–2): 167–180

    Google Scholar 

  4. Wouterse A, Williams S R, Philipse A P. Effect of particle shape on the density and microstructure of random packings. J Phys Condens Matter, 2007, 19(40): 406215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bargiel M. Geometrical properties of simulated packings of spherocylinders. In: Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Computational Science. Berlin: Springer-verlag, 2008. 5102: 126–135

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kyrylyuk A V, Wouterse A, Philipse A P. Random packings of rod-sphere mixtures simulated by mechanical contraction. In: Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Micromechanics of Granular Media. New York: American Institute of Physics, 2009. 1145: 211–214

    Google Scholar 

  7. Li S X, Zhao J, Lu P, et al. Maximum packing densities of basic 3D objects. Chinese Sci Bull, 2010, 55(2): 114–119

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  8. Westman A E R, Hugill H R. The packing of particles. J Am Ceram Soc, 1930, 13(10): 767–779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Westman A E R. The packing of particles: empirical equations for intermediate diameter ratios. J Am Ceram Soc, 1936, 19: 127–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. McGeary R K. Mechanical packing of spherical particles. J Am Ceram Soc, 1961, 44(10): 513–522

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  11. Yerazunis S, Bartlett J W, Nissan A H. Packing of binary mixtures of spheres and irregular particles. Nature, 1962, 195(4836): 33–35

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Yerazunis S, Cornel S W, Winter B. Dense random packing of binary mixtures of spheres. Nature, 1965, 207(4999): 835–837

    Article  MATH  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Yu A B, Zou R P, Standish N. Packing of ternary mixtures of nonspherical particles. J Am Ceram Soc, 1992, 75(10): 2765–2772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Yu A B, Standish N, McLean A. Porosity calculation of binary mixtures of non-spherical particles. J Am Ceram Soc, 1993, 76(11): 2813–2816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Milewski J V. The combined packing of rods and spheres in reinforcing plastics. Ind Eng Chem Prod Res Dev, 1978, 17(4): 363–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ouchiyama N, Tanaka T. Estimation of the average number of contacts between randomly mixed solid particles. Ind Eng Chem Fund, 1980, 19(4): 338–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ouchiyama N, Tanaka T. Porosity of a mass of solid particles having a range of sizes. Ind Eng Chem Fund, 1981, 20(1): 66–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Yu A B, Standish N. An analytical-parametric theory of the random packing of particles. Powder Tech, 1988, 55(3): 171–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Stovall T, Larrard F D, Buil M. Linear packing density model of grain mixtures. Powder Tech, 1986, 48(1): 1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Yu A B, Standish N. Porosity calculation of multicomponent mixtures of spherical-particles. Powder Tech, 1987, 52(3): 233–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Yu A B, Zou R P, Standish N. Modifying the linear packing model for predicting the porosity of nonspherical particle mixtures. Ind Eng Chem Res, 1996, 35(10): 3730–3741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Yu A B, Standish N. Estimation of the porosity of particle mixtures by a linear-mixture packing model. Ind Eng Chem Res, 1991, 30(6): 1372–1385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Yu A B, Standish N. Characterization of nonspherical particles from their packing behavior. Powder Tech, 1993, 74(3): 205–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Zou R P, Yu A B. Evaluation of the packing characteristics of mono-sized non-spherical particles. Powder Tech, 1996, 88(1): 71–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Zhao L, Li S X, Liu Y W. Numerical simulation of sphere packing with arbitrary diameter distribution. Chin J Comput Phys, 2007, 24(5): 625–630

    Google Scholar 

  26. Li S X, Zhao J. Sphere assembly model and relaxation algorithm for packing of non-spherical particles. Chin J Comput Phys, 2009, 26(3): 167–173

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Department of Mechanics & Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Peng Lu, ShuiXiang Li, Jian Zhao & LingYi Meng

Authors
  1. Peng Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. ShuiXiang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jian Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. LingYi Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to ShuiXiang Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lu, P., Li, S., Zhao, J. et al. A computational investigation on random packings of sphere-spherocylinder mixtures. Sci. China Phys. Mech. Astron. 53, 2284–2292 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-010-4190-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-010-4190-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation