Anm: a geometrical model for the composite structure of mortar and concrete using real-shape particles

The composite geometrical structure of mortar composites can be represented by a model consisting of sand embedded in a cement paste matrix and the structure of concrete by gravel embedded in a mortar matrix. Traditionally, spheres have often been used to represent aggregates (sand and gravel), although the accuracy of properties computed for structures using spherical aggregates as inclusions can be limited when the property contrast between aggregate and matrix is large. In this paper, a new geometrical model is described, which can simulate the composite structures of mortar and concrete with real-shape aggregates. The aggregate shapes are either directly or statistically taken from real particles, using a spherical harmonic expansion, where a set of spherical harmonic coefficients, anm, is used to describe the irregular shape. The model name of Anm is taken from this choice of notation. The take-and-place parking method is employed to put multiple irregular particles together within a pre-determined empty container, which becomes a representative volume element. This representative volume element can then be used as input into some kind of computational material model, which uses other numerical techniques such as finite elements to compute properties of the Anm composite structure.