X-ray tomography study on the structure of the granular random loose packing

Abstract

Random loose packing is the minimum-density granular packing which can maintain mechanical stability. In this study, x-ray tomography is used to investigate the internal structure of an isotropically prepared random loose packing through a special apparatus to minimize the effect of gravity. It is found that the minimum packing density is around 0.587. The microscopic structural analysis of the packing is also carried out.

X-ray nanotomography of dry colloidal packings

“…To overcome this difficulty in imaging dry colloids, we used X-ray imaging that is irrelevant to deformation and big refractive index difference between air and colloids 28 . Additionally, X-ray imaging offers precise 3D structural information by applying tomographic techniques 9,[28][29][30] . Using X-ray nanotomographic techniques, we are able to identify 3D structures of random packings from dry colloids and finally offer direct evidence for the ALP random structures of dry colloids.…”