THE PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION FOR THE HIGHEST RELATIVE DENSITY IN A COMPACTED BODY

The effects of particle size distribution on the relative density of simulated isotropical compaction have been evaluated. The types of particle size distribution used are log-normal distributions with various different geometrical standard deviations, and a discrete Horsfield's distribution consisting of five different sphere sizes. The Horsfield's distribution was assumed as a continuous log-normal distribution to its approximate quasi-geometrical standard deviation of 1.8 to be compared with the other distributions. The packing of spheres simulated the natural process as the isotropical packing. The packing density of the simulated bodies was estimated to evaluate the effects of the particle size distribution on the relative density. The highest relative density obtained was 0.58 for a geometrical standard deviation (sigma-g) of 1.7. When the Horsfield's distribution was employed, an extremely high densified packed body of 0.64 was simulated. The value of the highest density log-normal distribution, i.e., sigma-g = 1.7, was in good agreement with the simulated geometrical standard deviation of the Horsfield's distribution, i.e., sigma-g = 1.8. The mechanism by which the highest relative density could be obtained was explained by minute investigation of the co-ordination number. The results of the isotropically simulated bodies can be applied to simulate Cold Isostatic Pressed (CIPped) bodies.