Effect of sediment form and form distribution on porosity: a simulation study based on the discrete element method

Abstract Porosity is one of the key properties dense particle packings like sediment deposits and influenced by a multitude grain characteristics such as their size distribution shape. In present work, we focus on form, specific aspect overall shape, sedimentary grains in order to investigate quantify its effect porosity, ultimately deriving novel porosity-prediction models. To this end, develop robust accurate simulation tool based discrete element method which validate against laboratory experiments. Utilizing digital representations actual from Rhine river, first study that are composed particles with single form. There, porosity found be mainly determined inverse equancy, i.e., ratio longest smallest form-defining axis. Only for small ratios, additional shape-related become relevant, revealed direct comparison form-equivalent but smooth ellipsoids. Since naturally features form mixtures, extend our normally-distributed forms. agreement studies, depend primarily mean equancy. By supplying information about second factor standard deviations, derive an model prediction. Due simplicity, it can readily applied some measurements flatness elongation, two most common factors, available. Graphical abstract