A new interpretation of three-dimensional particle geometry: M-A-V-L. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Su, Yu Feng; Bhattacharya, Sumana; Lee, Seung Jae; Lee, Chang Hoon; Shin, Moochul
• Is Part Of: Transportation geotechnics. Volume 23(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: 3D particle geometry -- Morphology -- Surface area -- Volume -- Size; Engineering geology -- Periodicals; Soil mechanics -- Periodicals; Rock mechanics -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Periodicals; 624.15105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trgeo.2020.100328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-3912

Abstract

Abstract: This study provides a new interpretation of 3D particle geometry that unravels the 'interrelation' of the four geometry parameters, i.e., morphology M, surface area A, volume V, and size L, for which a new formula, M = A/V × L/6, is introduced to translate the 3D particle morphology as a function of surface area, volume, and size. The A/V × L of a sphere is invariably 6, which is placed in the denominator of the formula, and therefore M indicates a relative morphological irregularity compared to the sphere. The minimum possible value of M is clearly one, and M may range approximately to three for coarse-grained mineral particles. Furthermore, the proposed formula, M = A/V × L/6, enables to graphically preserve the four parameters' relations when plotting the geometry parameter distributions. This study demonstrates the approach with two plot spaces that represent (i) L vs. M and (ii) A/V vs. V, where A/V works as the messenger between these two spaces as A/V = M/L × 6. Therefore, this approach helps comprehensively address the four-dimensional aspects of the 3D particle geometry and better understand the parameters' combined influence on the mechanical behavior of granular materials.