A new approach for obtaining the geometric properties of a granular porous bed based on DEM simulations

In the article, a new way for obtaining a set of geometrical parameters of granular porous beds is presented, if the data on the locations and sizes of all particles is available. The input data were prepared with the use of Discrete Element Method. The other way for acquiring the input data may be the application of Computed Tomography (CT) and Image Analysis (IA) techniques. All geometrical parameters are calculated with the use of own numerical code called PathFinder (freely available in the Internet together with its source code). In addition to description of the method of calculations, two examples of its use are presented. One simulation was performed in PFC3D code, and the other in YADE software. The aim of the article was to show clearly that a porosity is not sufficient to describe the spatial structure of a porous body. In both presented examples, the porosity value is almost the same, but other parameters, e.g. tortuosity, are different. The motivation to write the PathFinder code were significant problems with obtaining geometrical parameters needed in investigations related to granular porous media. The issues described in the article are a part of an overall research methodology relating to the linking the micro- and macro-scale investigations of granular porous beds. The areas of applications of this methodology are not discussed in the article.