<p>In this paper, a novel method for investigating the particle-crushing behavior of breeding particles in a fusion blanket is proposed. The fractal theory and Weibull distribution are combined to establish a theoretical model, and its validity was verified using a simple impact test. A crushable discrete element method (DEM) framework is built based on the previously established theoretical model. The tensile strength, which considers the fractal theory, size effect, and Weibull variation, was assigned to each generated particle. The assigned strength is then used for crush detection by comparing it with its maximum tensile stress. Mass conservation is ensured by inserting a series of sub-particles whose total mass was equal to the quality loss. Based on the crushable DEM framework, a numerical simulation of the crushing behavior of a pebble bed with hollow cylindrical geometry under a uniaxial compression test was performed. The results of this investigation showed that the particle withstands the external load by contact and sliding at the beginning of the compression process, and the results confirmed that crushing can be considered an important method of resisting the increasing external load. A relatively regular particle arrangement aids in resisting the load and reduces the occurrence of particle crushing. However, a limit exists to the promotion of resistance. When the strain increases beyond this limit, the distribution of the crushing position tends to be isotropic over the entire pebble bed. The theoretical model and crushable DEM framework provide a new method for exploring the pebble bed in a fusion reactor, considering particle crushing.</p>