Development of a theoretical packing model incorporating the effect of vibration, shape and surface texture

Determination of packing density of a particulate mixture is still an open problem for researchers and scientists. The complex and random nature of particle behavior in a mixture and effect of various external factors have made it more and more complicated to develop theoretical and analytical models to predict the packing density. This study focused on the effect of vibration frequency, particle shape and surface texture on packing density. Initially, laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the use of packing concepts in concrete mixture design for interlocking concrete block pavers (ICBP). The approach found to be successful. However, determination of packing density of aggregate mixtures in laboratory was time consuming and difficult. Hence, the use of packing models to determine the packing density was studied. Validity of existing packing models for the aggregate mixtures was studied and as a result the 3-parameter model was found to be the only model that incorporates loosening effect, wall effect and wedging effect and the percentage error of 3-parameter model found to be lesser than that of Toufar model and compressible packing model. Hence, the 3-parameter model was selected for the modification. The results obtained from experiments were then analyzed and relationships were developed isolating the effect of vibration, surface texture and particle shape. Three effects were combined, and the packing density variations were obtained to incorporate the effects and modify the 3-parameter model. The packing density and vibration shows a 3rd order polynomial behavior while shape and surface texture shows a linear relationship with packing density. The developed model was validated for more than 300 independent data. The behavior of loosening effect, wall effect and wedging effect with vibration, surface texture and shape were also analyzed. The wall effect is affected by both surface texture and vibration frequency. The loosening effect is affected only by particle shape and the wedging effect does not affect by any of these factors