The Effect of Particle Shape on The Angle of Repose for Granular Piles

The angle of repose is an important parameter for characterizing particle flow in granular piles. Understanding and predicting avalanches, mudslides, and other similar granular flows has many applications in geophysics, civil engineering, and mining. In this investigation, we aim to understand the role of particle aspect ratio in determining the angle of repose of granular piles. We investigate how the angle of repose depends on the aspect ratio of the particle, as well as pile confinement, and pile preparation methods, while also considering particle orientation. In general, we observed that for particles ranging from aspect ratios of 2.5 to 6, the angle of repose decreases with increasing aspect ratio. Furthermore, we observed that the method of pile preparation has a major impact on the slopes of piles made of particles of different aspect ratios, even reversing the general trend. Finally, we observed that the pile confinement has a smaller impact on the angle of repose, with narrower confinement making the general angle of repose steeper.