The Effect of Particle Size on Thermal Conduction in Granular Mixtures.Shredded rubber tire is a geomaterial that is potentially useful in environmental and engineering projects.  Here, we study the effect of particle size ratio on the thermal conductivity of granular mixtures containing rubber tire particles.  The 3D network model analysis using synthetic packed assemblies was used to determine the dominant factors influencing the thermal conduction of the mixtures.  Results present that mixtures with varying size ratios exhibit different nonlinear evolutions of thermal conductivity values with mixture fractions.  In particular, mixtures with large insulating materials (e.g., rubber particles) have higher thermal conduction that those with small ones.  This is because the larger insulating particles allow better interconnectivity among the conductive particles, thereby avoiding the interruption of the thermal conduction of the conductive particles.  The 3D network model identifies the heterogeneity of local and effective thermal conductivity and the influence of connectivity among conductive particles. 
THERM
The Effect of Particle Size on Thermal Conduction in Granular Mixtures.Shredded rubber tire is a geomaterial that is potentially useful in environmental and engineering projects.  Here, we study the effect of particle size ratio on the thermal conductivity of granular mixtures containing rubber tire particles.  The 3D network model analysis using synthetic packed assemblies was used to determine the dominant factors influencing the thermal conduction of the mixtures.  Results present that mixtures with varying size ratios exhibit different nonlinear evolutions of thermal conductivity values with mixture fractions.  In particular, mixtures with large insulating materials (e.g., rubber particles) have higher thermal conduction that those with small ones.  This is because the larger insulating particles allow better interconnectivity among the conductive particles, thereby avoiding the interruption of the thermal conduction of the conductive particles.  The 3D network model identifies the heterogeneity of local and effective thermal conductivity and the influence of connectivity among conductive particles. 
THERM
The Effect of Particle Size on Thermal Conduction in Granular Mixtures.Shredded rubber tire is a geomaterial that is potentially useful in environmental and engineering projects.  Here, we study the effect of particle size ratio on the thermal conductivity of granular mixtures containing rubber tire particles.  The 3D network model analysis using synthetic packed assemblies was used to determine the dominant factors influencing the thermal conduction of the mixtures.  Results present that mixtures with varying size ratios exhibit different nonlinear evolutions of thermal conductivity values with mixture fractions.  In particular, mixtures with large insulating materials (e.g., rubber particles) have higher thermal conduction that those with small ones.  This is because the larger insulating particles allow better interconnectivity among the conductive particles, thereby avoiding the interruption of the thermal conduction of the conductive particles.  The 3D network model identifies the heterogeneity of local and effective thermal conductivity and the influence of connectivity among conductive particles. 
THERM