Varying initial void ratios for DEM simulations

Abstract

While many physical experimental methods have been developed to produce different relative densities, and to measure the minimum and maximum void ratios of samples of granular soil, there has been little exploration of techniques for varying the initial void ratio of numerical (e.g. DEM) ‘samples'. This paper reports a series of numerical experiments carried out to explore, for two-dimensional particles, the ranges of initial void ratios that can be achieved on particles of different shape. A tentative proposal is made for a suitable method of producing loose and dense particle packings for DEM simulations. The paper also examines the equivalence of surface undulations and inter-particle friction in affecting void ratio.