Chord length distributions of non convex bodies: Dumbbell and diabolo like-particles

[Display omitted] •Chord length distribution of dumbbell shaped particles is calculated.•Chord length distribution of diabolo shaped particles is calculated.•CLD characteristics of non convex bodies are deduced. The scattering of an electromagnetic wave by a particle is directly related to its Chord Length Distribution (CLD) in certain cases. Whereas the CLD of convex bodies, e.g. sphere, ellipsoids, cylinders…, can be easily calculated, few studies have been conducted on the CLD of non convex bodies which are more difficult to ascertain. Two non convex bodies built from two spheres, i.e. dumbbells and diabolos, were considered. Firstly, we describe original algorithms designed for calculating the intersection between a straight line and these particles. Then the corresponding CLDs are calculated by using the Monte-Carlo method. Analysis of the deviation of these CLDs from the CLD of the sphere can identify precisely the main features due to some local non convexity. The corresponding items are expressed as a function of a non convexity parameter.