Particle Geometry Space: An integrated characterization of particle shape, surface area, volume, specific surface, and size distribution

Abstract

Particle size and shape are the two key 3D particle geometry parameters that govern the complex behavior of granular materials. The effect of particle size and shape has often been examined in isolation, typically through separate analyses of particle size distribution (PSD) and shape distribution, leading to an unaddressed knowledge gap. Beyond size and shape, 3D particle geometry also includes attributes such as surface area and volume, which together defines the surface-area-to-volume ratio, commonly known as the specific surface. To comprehensively understand the influence of particle geometry on the behavior of granular materials, it is important to integrate these parameters, ideally into a single analytical framework. To this end, this paper presents a new approach, particle geometry space (PGS), formulated based on the principle that the key 3D particle geometry attributes – volume, surface area, and shape – can be uniformly expressed as a function of specific surface. The PGS not only encompasses all 3D particle geometry attributes but also extends its scope by integrating the conventional PSD concept. This innovation enables engineers and researchers who are already familiar with PSD to perform a more systematic characterization of 3D particle geometries. The paper (i) discusses the limitations of existing methods for characterizing 3D particle geometry, (ii) offers an overview of the PGS, (iii) proposes a method for integrating PSD into the PGS, and (iv) demonstrates its application with a set of 3D mineral particle geometry data.