Setting A Particle Size Distribution

 

The size distribution is set for the particle shapes in each Bulk Material including meta-particles. The scaling options for the size distributions are all relative to the defined particle size. If the ‘scale by Radius’ option is used, all length dimensions will be scaled in direct proportion to the value specified. If 'Scale by Volume’ is specified all length dimensions will be scaled to the cube-root of the value specified.

 

The size distribution options are:

 

1. Fixed. All particles are created with an equal size and volume.
2. Random. Particle radii are randomly sized within a set size range: for example, with a minimum size of 0.5 and a maximum of 1.5 and scale by Radius selected, particles no smaller than half and no bigger than one-and-a-half times the size of the standard size are produced.
3. Normal distribution. Particle shapes have a normal distribution. The average (mean) particle radius or volume and the standard deviation must be defined. The mean and standard deviation should both be normalized i.e. the mean is the ratio of the mean to the input particle radius or volume and similarly for the standard deviation. Use the capping options to cap the maximum and minimum particle sizes.
4. Log-normal distribution. Particle shapes have a log-normal distribution. The average (mean) particle radius or volume and the standard deviation must be defined. The mean and standard deviation can be defined using a logarithmic or linear scale. With a logarithmic scale, the input values are exponential functions. For example, a mean value of 1 in the logarithmic scale denotes an actual scaling of 2.718 in the linear scale. Note that the mean and standard deviation should both be normalized i.e. the mean is the ratio of the mean to the input particle radius or volume and similarly for the standard deviation.
5. User Defined. For mass generation of particles only, input a scale and percentage of total mass to be generated at that scale. Data can also be imported from CSV files where the first column is the scale and second column is percentage of mass. This data can also be pasted directly into the table.  Percentage mass values must add up to 100%. User Defined size distributions can only be used with Mass Generation factories, number of particles (total number or number per second) factories are not supported.

 

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