Effect of loess particle shape on its performance under biaxial compression
Jianzhong Sun, Xian Li, Qi Geng, Tantan Zhu
Abstract
The shape of loess particles was determined from scanning electron microscope images and biaxial tests were simulated by the discrete element method. The effects of different percentages of angular, sub-angular, sub-rounded, rounded and well-rounded particles in the samples on the internal friction angle, coordination number and porosity of the loess are studied, and the evolution of the numerical simulation results during the tests are analysed from the microscopic level. The results show that when the combined roundness and combined ellipticity values decrease, that is, the irregular and flat particle percentage content decreases, the internal friction angle, the average coordination number between particles and the porosity of the sample decrease.KEY POINTSScanning electron microscope images of loess are processed, and the percentage of particles with different shapes in each sample determined.The microscopic and macroscopic changes of samples during biaxial compression are considered via the discrete element method.The effects of different particle shape percentage combinations on the internal friction angle, coordination number and porosity of loess are investigated, and the experimental results are explained from the microscopic point of view.