Computer-simulated random packing of spheres

A computer program has been written which randomly packs together, by sequential deposition, spheres from any given particle size distribution. Simulated packings have been produced for equal sized spheres and spheres with log-normal size distributions. The packing density is relatively insensitive to the particle size distribution for the simulated method of sequential deposition without subsequent movement of the spheres. The geometrical arrangement of the packings is summarised by presenting results in the form of distribution curves of the number of contacts per sphere. The distribution of touching contacts for equal sized spheres is a symmetric distribution and the mean number of contacts per sphere is close to six. For log-normally distributed spheres the distribution of contacts is asymmetric and wider, but the mean number of contacts remains close to six.