Effect of particle size and shape on the grain-size distribution using Image analysis

Grain-size distribution that is one of the base properties of soils and soil classification systems gives idea about engineering properties of soils. Determination of grain-size distribution derived from mechanical method (sieving) is time consuming and difficult. Hence, the image analysis methods for determination of grain-size distribution have been also investigated by several researchers. In that research, the grain-size distributions for ten soil samples with different sizes and shapes are determined with image analysis methods. The effects of particle shape (i.e., elongated, flat, spherical) and volume computation techniques (cube, cylinder, ellipsoid, and modified ellipsoid) on grain-size distribution were also researched. The results of the research indicated that the shape of particles significantly affected grain-size distribution. Additionally, modified ellipsoid method is determined as the best volume computation method.