Shape Characteristics of Coral Sand from the South China Sea

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In this study, the shape characteristics of coral sand particles have been studied by using optical imaging and digital image processing method. The studies were conducted on the coral and quartz sand. Below are my comments to the manuscript:

Figures 1 ,4 ,5, 9, 10 , 11, 12, 13 ,14: need to be re-edited to fit the manuscript

Methods: There were 200 particles tested, what was the fraction? 0.5 – 5 mm or divided into three groups as you mentioned in 2.1

Literature review: The authors mention the reverences 35, 37, 38, and states that the cited literature,  concerns the different perspectives on granular material shape studies. In my opinion, this part needs to be more consistent and the different perspectives should be mentioned.

Conclusion: More details of what the coral sand based on the shape analysis will differ from the quartz sand. For example, the compaction and mechanical properties, how they would be affected by the grain shape.

Author Response

Dear reviewer, we have replied to your comments in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

please find attached my comments.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear reviewer, we have replied to your comments in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Please find my comments in the attached file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear reviewer, we have replied to your comments in the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Thanks for your response to my comments and corresponding corrections..

Sincerely

 

Author Response

We sincerely thank you for your valuable suggestions on improving the quality of manuscripts.

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors improved the original paper and considered many comments of the reviewer. However, two major comments are need to be revised again:

1) State of the art: A review about the experimental methodology using in the existing studies is still missing. The short coming and advantages of the method used in this study must be listed.

The authors provided a long literature review in the revised version. However, the state of the art for the existing measurement technique is still missing.

2) In the main results of the study (Fig. 10): The distribution of particle shape parameters is a normal distribution. This is a skewed distribution. A fitting of these parameters with normal distribution does not make sense.

According to the authors, the conclusions (rows 271-295) based on the fitting curves. This is not correct. Based on the analysis results, the influence of the Overall profile coefficient α is unclear (a); It appears that the gain size does not have influence on the flatness E (b); and the trend of the Roughness R is unclear (d). To have better results, a larger number of particles need to be investigated.

Author Response

We sincerely hope to have an in-depth exchange of views with you, and We have replied to your question in the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 3

Reviewer 3 Report

The revised version can be accepted.