Research on the particle characteristics of manufactured sands affecting the flow ability of fresh mortar.

• A method for batch calculation of aggregate shape parameters was proposed based DIP. • The numerical model of mortar fluidity test was successfully established by DEM. • The increase in flake particle content leads to greater elongation of machined sand. • High flaky particle content can lead to poor flowability of mortar. • There is a correlation between the aggregate shape parameters and the fluidity. This paper combined digital image processing (DIP) and discrete element method (DEM) to investigate the relationship between the particle characteristics of manufactured sand and the flow ability of mortar, and clarified the key characteristics parameters of particle shape influencing the flow ability of mortar. A method for batch calculation of shape characteristic parameters (elongation n e , angularity index n a and fullness ratio n f) of aggregates based on DIP was proposed. The fluidity tests and corresponding simulations of mortar at different water-cement ratios were carried out respectively, and the results showed that the errors of simulated fluidity (f m) were around 7%. The simulation results demonstrated that the f m decreased with increasing content of large-size aggregates in the mortar. The augment of both n e and n a reduced the flowability of mortar. The magnitude of rolling/sliding friction coefficients of aggregates are the important parameters that determine the flowability of mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]