Revisiting Hardin’s parameters for the quantification of particle breakage – A statistical entropy approach

Abstract

It is well recognised that particle breakage in granular materials is affected by stress level, stress path, initial density, and particle size distribution (PSD), amongst others. Furthermore, it has been shown that breakage has a significant influence on the stress-strain behaviour of soils. This paper compares a commonly used breakage parameter with grading entropy coordinates. Such coordinates enable for the representation of any PSD as a single point in a Cartesian coordinate plane. Hence, the evolution of PSD changes may be easily tracked. This paper aims to demonstrate that grading entropy coordinates are as (or more) effective than other breakage parameters, whilst providing additional insight. On the basis of limited data it is shown that grading entropy coordinates are able to capture the dependence of breakage on stress level, stress path and initial PSD.