  An extensive numerical campaign of particle mechanics calculations that
predict microstructure formation and evolution during die compaction, up to
relative densities close to one, of monodisperse plastic spheres that exhibit
power-law plastic hardening behavior is presented. The study is focused on
elucidating the relationship between particle plastic properties, loading
conditions, and statistical features of the resulting microstructure. This
communication provides fundamental insight into the achievable space of
microstructures through die compaction, for given plastic stiffness and
hardening exponent at the particle scale.
