Packing of poly-dispersed discs into a rectangular container

Abstract

The geometric packing method for generation of initial particle configurations which are used in the earliest simulation steps via DEM is suggested. The obtained packing is optimized either for maximum density or maximum homogeneity by several heuristics and stochastic optimization algorithms. The objective function for optimization algorithm is supplied by the "black-box" routine which can either determine the best possible place in the packing for each particle, or allows arbitrary narrowing of the placing domain thus accelerating the computations. The quality of packing rendered by packing routine depends only on the initial sequence of particle set. The obtained packing is stable with respect to the gravitational effects. Performance of optimization methods was studied by benchmark tests of periodic and non-periodic packing of mono- and polysized assemblies of circular particles. Simulation quality is controlled by packing density and computational efficiency. Stability of generated packing is proved by DEM.