RSA vs DEM in view of particle packing-related properties of cementitious materials

Various systems for simulating particulate matter are developed and used in concrete technology for producing virtual cementitious materials on the different levels of the microstructure. Basically, the systems can be classified as two distinct families, namely random sequential addition systems (RSAs) and discrete element methods (DEMs). The first type is hardly being used for this purpose outside concrete technology, but became popular among concrete technologists. Hence, it is of utmost relevance to compare the two families in their capabilities, so that the reliability of produced data can be estimated. This paper pursues to do this on the basis of earlier published material of work performed by a succession of PhD students in the group of the second author. Limited references will be given to external sources.