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Particle shape dependence in 2D granular media

Particle shape is a key to the space-filling and strength properties of granular matter. We consider a shape parameter $η$ describing the degree of distortion from a perfectly spherical shape. Encompassing most specific shape characteristics such as elongation, angularity and nonconvexity, $η$ is a low-order but generic parameter that we used in a numerical benchmark test for a systematic investigation of shape-dependence in sheared granular packings composed of particles of different shapes. We find that the shear strength is an increasing function of $η$ with nearly the same trend for all shapes, the differences appearing thus to be of second order compared to $η$. We also observe a nontrivial behavior of packing fraction which, for all our simulated shapes, increases with $η$ from the random close packing fraction for disks, reaches a peak considerably higher than that for disks, and subsequently declines as $η$ is further increased. These findings suggest that a low-order description of particle shape accounts for the principal trends of packing fraction and shear strength. Hence, the effect of second-order shape parameters may be investigated by considering different shapes at the same level of $η$.