Evolution of particle morphology and mode of fracture during the oedometric compression of sand

• DOI: 10.1680/jgeot.18.p.300
• Publication Date: 2020-06-26T17:05:53Z
• Authors: Dawa Seo; Changbum Sohn; Mehmet B. Cil; Giuseppe Buscarnera
• Keywords: Comminution; Breakage; Cushioning; Particle (ecology); Microscale chemistry; Crusher; Shearing (physics)

This work uses synchrotron X-ray tomography to quantify the role of particle shape on interaction between collective comminution and individual grain fracture. Two sands (subrounded Ottawa subangular Q-ROK#2) were compressed beyond their pressure imaged at microscale. An algorithm was developed track sequence breakage events stemming from compression, as well evolving morphology resulting fragments. The results show that degree evolution depends initial particles, with subrounded particles exhibiting most severe alterations. However, it found high compressive stress all morphological indices approach similar values. Such a tendency is achieved when crushing involves primarily finer fractions – is, cushioning hinders rupture larger particles. A quantitative assessment mode failure also revealed in both (i.e. pervasive fragmentation particles) not abruptly, but rather attained by way successive stages splitting chipping. These findings suggest crushable granular solids plays key during first compression leading yielding, its influence tends vanish higher pressures, mitigates impact differences further major breakage.