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A constitutive model for rockfills considering grain breakage and size effect

Particle breakage is a significant factor in influencing the behavior of granular assemblies. A novel approach to predict the mechanical behavior of very coarse granular materials such as rockfills has been developed by a constitutive model which considers both grain breakage and size effect. A two yield surface model is adopted in which the change in the critical state line due to grain breakage during loading is incorporated. The amount of grain breakage is controlled by extending Weibull’s size effect theory from individual grains to granular assemblies. The results from earlier studies on granular materials with parallel gradations are usefully exploited to calibrate and to validate the model. Comparisons between experiments and simulations suggest that this approach can predict the mechanical behavior of rockfills.

Author(s):

Pierre-Yves Hicher    
Ecole Centrale de Nantes
France

Zhen-Yu Yin    
Ecole Centrale de Nantes
France

Christophe Dano    
Ecole Centrale de Nantes
France