Investigation of the particle crushing characteristics of stacked stone materials under different stress path conditions

Abstract

Abstract Stone fill materials are widely used in engineering projects such as earth-rock dams, railways, and highway embankments. Nevertheless, they are susceptible to particle breakage, which can lead to a decline in engineering performance. A complete set of studies on crushed stone aggregates was carried out to investigate particle crushing characteristics under various stress path conditions. To quantify the amount of particle crushing, the relative particle crushing rate was utilized as an indicator. The plastic work performed during the trials was compared across different stress routes, and the relationships between particle crushing and average stress p and generalized shear stress q were investigated. In triaxial testing, the differences in particle crushing behavior under different stress routes were thoroughly examined. The results show that particle crushing is substantially lower in the modelling of a rockfill dam constructed with a core wall and subjected to reservoir water pressure pathways than in conventional triaxial tests. A clear relationship was discovered. Across several stress routes, a clear link between plastic work and the relative particle crushing rate was detected, which was successfully characterized by a power function. Notably, the contributions of different stress components to the overall plastic work varied significantly. The plastic work exerted by the generalized shear stress q accounted for a large percentage of traditional triaxial testing, although the proportion of plastic work given by p and q changed significantly in complex stress path tests. This research enhances the understanding of the particle breakage characteristics of stone fill materials under complex stress paths.

Keywords

• Crushed stone aggregates
• Particle crushing
• Stress path
• Plastic work
• Triaxial test