High-Resolution Dataset for Granular Material Heaps

Understanding the behavior of granular materials remains a central challenge across process engineering, geomechanics, and material science. A valuable contribution to this field is the dataset published by Rackl & Grötsch (2018), which provides a carefully curated experimental benchmark for analyzing bulk material heaps.

What the Dataset Contains

The dataset comprises 108 bulk material piles, each captured using high-resolution 3D scanning techniques. Alongside the geometric representations (provided as STL mesh files), the collection includes key physical properties such as:

• Angles of repose

• Bulk densities

• Derived geometric descriptors

This combination of raw and processed data allows for both direct geometric analysis and the validation of computational models. In particular, the experimental measurements can serve as a useful basis for calibrating material models in numerical simulations. 

Open Access to the Data

In line with open science principles, the authors provide the full dataset as supplementary material to their publication. This makes it easy to integrate into workflows or use as a reference in academic and industrial research.

Download:

https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3942535

Reference:

Rackl, M., & Grötsch, J. (2018). 3D scans, angles of repose and bulk densities of 108 bulk material heaps. Scientific Data.