ABSTRACT
To properly simulate grain angularity, elliptical (Ting et al. 1995; Ruistuen, 1997), super-quadric (Rege, 1991; Preece et al. 1999) and polygonal (e.g., Kun & Herrmann, 1996) particle models have been studied. If applying the more general distinct element method (Cundall, 1971 & 1988) or discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) (e.g., Shi, 2001), particles in complicated shapes can also be implemented. All the above-mentioned approaches are complicated in detecting contact and calculating contact forces.The price of implementing particles in complicated shapes is computational time and memory. It should be considered with the balance of accuracy of a simulation.
