LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Packing of spheroids in three-dimensional space by random sequential addition

Packings of spheroidal particles with semi-axes of length (a,b,b) were generated by random sequential addition (RSA) simulations. As the jamming limit is approached, the volume fraction occupied by particles tends towards an asymptote , which was determined as a function of aspect ratio . This asymptote has a local minimum at (spheres), with local maxima at (prolate spheroids) and (oblate). Values of agree with results from RSA simulations of sphere packings, but lie below volume fractions obtained in simulations of near-spheres packed under gravity. Volume fractions reported for simulations of spheroids packed under gravity vary widely when the aspect ratio is very large or small; differences between these results and the predictions of RSA are discussed.

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