Collaborative Research: Three-dimensional characterization and modeling of angular materials

该奖项需要南佛罗里达大学和罗文大学之间的合作研究，以开发颗粒形态的三维定量表征方法，并检查颗粒形状和角度对岩土材料力学响应的影响。提出了粒子三维表征和成像的新方法。在数字图像分析、形状识别和物体重建等新兴技术的支持下，最近在二维岩土颗粒形状识别方面的创新将适用于绘制颗粒的三维形状。还将介绍三维粒子形态的定量测量。通过数字图像分析和模式识别，建立二维和三维粒子形状之间的联系。一个粒子形状的数字图书馆将在网上提供给科学界。pi最近开发的用于在2D中模拟角度颗粒形状的方法和算法将扩展到3D，并且使用3D图像分析获得的颗粒几何形状将被纳入离散元素方法（DEM）代码中。通过实验测量和DEM模拟，评估颗粒形状对剪胀率和稳态抗剪强度的影响。将对新技术的优点和局限性进行相应的评估。拟议的研究将涉及两所大学的几名本科生和研究生。此外，教师将通过机构RETs为初高中学生开发模块化练习。仅这一点就对大部分人口大有裨益。

This award entails collaborative research between the University of South Florida and Rowan University to develop a methodology for three-dimensional quantitative characterization of particle morphology, as well as to examine the effect of particle shape and angularity on the mechanical response of geomaterials. New methods for three-dimensional characterization and imaging of particles are proposed. Recent innovations in geotechnical particle shape identification in two dimensions, supported by emerging technologies in digital image analysis, shape recognition, and object reconstruction will be adapted to map the three-dimensional shapes of particles. Quantitative measures for particle morphologies in three dimensions will also be introduced. A link will be established between 2D and 3D particle shapes through digital image analysis and pattern recognition. A digital library of particle shapes will be made available online to the scientific community. Methods and algorithms recently developed by the PIs to model angular particle shapes in 2D will be extended to 3D, and the particle geometries obtained using the 3D image analysis will be incorporated within a Discrete Element Method (DEM) code. The influence of particle shape on dilatancy and steady state shear strength will be evaluated through experimental measurements and DEM simulations. The advantages and limitations of the new techniques will be assessed accordingly. The proposed research will involve several undergraduate and graduate students at both institutions. In addition, teachers will be engaged in developing modular exercises for middle and high school students through institutional RETs. This alone will be greatly beneficial to the large fraction of the population.