Open Access

ARTICLE

Modeling of Random Bimodal Structures of Composites (Application to Solid Propellants): I. Simulation of Random Packs

V.A. Buryachenko^1,2, T.L. Jackson^2,3, G. Amadio³

1 Current address: Micromechanics & Composites LLC, 2520 Hingham Lane, Dayton, OH 45459, USA
2 IllinoisRocstar LLC, 60 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
3 Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61820, USA

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2012, 85(5), 379-416. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2012.085.379

Abstract

We consider a composite medium, which consists of a homogeneous matrix containing a statistically homogeneous set of multimodal spherical inclusions. This model is used to represent the morphology of heterogeneous solid propellants (HSP) that are widely used in the rocket industry. The Lubachevsky-Stillinger algorithm is used to generate morphological models of HSP with large polydisperse packs of spherical inclusions. We modify the algorithm by proposing a random shaking procedure that leads to the stabilization of a statistical distribution of the simulated structure that is homogeneous, highly mixed, and protocol independent (in sense that the statistical parameters estimated do not depend on the basic simulation algorithm). Increasing the number of shaking has a twofold effect. First, the system becomes more homogeneous and well-mixed. Second, the stochastic fluctuations of statistical parameters (such as e.g. radial distribution function, RDF), estimated by averaging of these structures, tend to diminish.

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Keywords

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