Breakage and morphology of uniform and gap-graded calcareous sands during high-pressure triaxial shearing
摘要
Calcareous sands demonstrate unique particle breakage and particle shape responses. This research systematically analyzed particle breakage, particle shape, and shear behavior of uniform and gap-graded calcareous sands under different conditions of confining pressure, coarse particles content, and relative density using high-pressure drained triaxial tests. The test results showed that both shear strength and volumetric contraction increase with increasing confining pressure. Coarse particles content significantly influences shear strength due to its role in forming the soil skeleton. The overall particle shape parameter has a high correlation with particle breakage index regardless of the influence of confining pressure. A model linking particle breakage and input work in both uniform and gap-graded sands was proposed. In addition, comparative tests on calcareous and silica sands revealed that sand friction angle is governed by particle shape at low confining pressures and breakage at high pressures. Particle breakage, by altering the particle size distribution and particle shape, induces change in dilatancy and shifts the position of critical state line.