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Effects of particle shape and size distribution on the shear strength behavior of composite soils

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Abstract

The effects of particle shape and size distribution on the constitutive behavior of composite soils with a wide range of particle size were investigated. Two comparable sets of specimens were prepared: (1) mixtures of fines (clay and silt) and an ideal coarse fraction (glass sand and beads), and (2) mixtures of fines and natural coarse fraction (river sand and crushed granite gravels). Direct shear box testing was undertaken on 34 samples and the structure of the shear surfaces, change in volume and water content and the particle shape coefficient of the sheared specimens were examined. The results indicate that the contraction/dilation a specimen exhibits is restrained within the shear zone while the outer zones remain unchanged during shearing. An increased coarse fraction leads to an increase in constant volume shear strength. In addition, increasing elongation or decreasing convexity of the coarse fraction increases the constant volume friction angle. The overall roughness of the shear surface at constant volume state is negatively related to particle smoothness (convexity) and positively related to the area of the shear surface occupied by particles with particular shapes. Two equations are proposed for the estimation of constant volume friction angle based on the proportion and shape coefficient of the coarse fraction. It is hoped this will assist in considering the shear strength of mixed soils when the size of the coarse fraction makes laboratory testing difficult.

Résumé

Les effets de la forme et de la granularité des particules sur le comportement rhéologique de sols composites, considérant une large gamme de taille des particules, ont été étudiés. Deux ensembles comparables d’échantillons ont été préparés: (1) des mélanges de sols fins (argile et limon) avec une fraction grossière artificielle (sable de verre et perles), et (2) des mélanges de sols fins avec une fraction grossière naturelle (sable de rivière et graviers de granite concassé). Des essais de cisaillement direct à la boîte ont été réalisés sur 34 échantillons. La structure des surfaces de cisaillement, les changements de volume et de teneur en eau ainsi que le coefficient de forme des particules des échantillons cisaillés ont été analysés. Les résultats indiquent que la contractance/dilatance présentée par les échantillons ne concerne que la zone de cisaillement, tandis que les autres parties des échantillons restent inchangées pendant le cisaillement. Une augmentation de la fraction grossière conduit à une augmentation de la résistance au cisaillement à volume constant. En outre, une augmentation de l’allongement ou une diminution de la convexité des particules de la fraction grossière conduit à une augmentation de l’angle de frottement lors d’un cisaillement à volume constant. La rugosité globale de la surface de cisaillement pour un cisaillement à volume constant est reliée négativement à l’émoussé des particules (convexité) et positivement à la fraction de surface de cisaillement occupée par des particules de formes particulières. Deux équations sont proposées, pour l’estimation de l’angle de frottement relatif à un cisaillement à volume constant. Elles sont basées sur la proportion et sur le coefficient de forme de la fraction grossière. On espère que cela aidera à l’analyse de la résistance au cisaillement de sols composites lorsque la taille de la fraction grossière rend la réalisation des essais en laboratoire difficile.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51309176). The author is grateful to Dr. A. Aydin and Dr. A.T. Yeung whose comments and suggestions have improved the quality of this manuscript.

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  1. College of Mining Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Yanrong Li

  2. AGECON Ltd., Hong Kong, China

    Yanrong Li

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Li, Y. Effects of particle shape and size distribution on the shear strength behavior of composite soils. Bull Eng Geol Environ 72, 371–381 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0482-7

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