Experimental Micro-Macromechanics: Critical States of Round/Angular Granular Mixtures
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 12
Abstract
This paper comprehensively investigates the influence of mixing angular particles on macroscopic shear strength and microscopic particle motion in granular mixtures. Circular and hexagonal particles of two sizes were used, and varying proportions of angular content were achieved by introducing hexagonal particles into circular samples. Biaxial shearing tests were conducted under three different confining stresses. The results revealed that an increased angular content within the granular mixtures resulted in enhanced interlocking configurations, leading to higher critical-state strength and dilation. This highlights the crucial role of particle angularity in governing the macroscopic characteristics of such granular mixtures. At the microscopic level, an increase in angular content generally caused a decrease in overall particle rotations within the mixtures. Specifically, circular particles experienced significant reductions, while hexagonal particles showed negligible effects, suggesting round particles were more susceptible to angular particles, restricting their rotational movement. Conversely, hexagonal particles were less influenced, indicating a unidirectional restriction. This study deepens our understanding of particle interactions and mechanical responses in granular mixtures, highlighting the significance of angular content in influencing shear strength and particle motion.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The first author thanks the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan for providing financial assistance through the Monbukagakusho scholarship to study at Yokohama National University, Japan. This work was also funded by JSPS KAKENHI under grants 24360192 and 19H00780 to the corresponding author.
References
Ali, U., M. Kikumoto, and M. Ciantia. 2024. “Impact of particle elongation on the behavior of round and angular granular media: Consequences of particle rotation and force chain development.” Comput. Geotech. 165 (Jan): 105858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105858.
Ali, U., M. Kikumoto, M. Ciantia, and Y. Cui. 2022. “Validation of DEM using macroscopic stress-strain behavior and microscopic particle motion in sheared granular assemblies.” In Proc., 15th World Congress on Computational Mechanics (WCCM-XV) and 8th Asian Pacific Congress on Computational Mechanics (APCOM-VIII), edited by S. Koshizuka. Barcelona, Spain: Scipedia. https://doi.org/10.23967/wccm-apcom.2022.127.
Ali, U., M. Kikumoto, M. Ciantia, Y. Cui, and M. Previtali. 2023a. “Systematic effect of particle roundness/angularity on macro- and microscopic behavior of granular materials.” Granular Matter 25 (3): 51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-023-01341-y.
Ali, U., M. Kikumoto, M. Ciantia, M. Previtali, and Y. Cui. 2023b. “Experimental micro–macromechanics: Particle shape effect on the biaxial shear response of particulate systems.” Géotechnique 2023 (Jun): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.22.00364.
Ali, U., M. Kikumoto, Y. Cui, M. Ciantia, and M. Previtali. 2023c. “Role of particle rotation in sheared granular media.” Acta Geotech. 18 (9): 4599–4614. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-01860-1.
Ali, U., M. Kikumoto, Y. Cui, M. Ciantia, and M. Previtali. 2023d. “Micromechanical observation of kinematics of sheared circular discs.” In Proc., 8th Int. Symp. on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials (I S - PORTO 2023), edited by A. Fonseca and C. Ferreira, 05007. London: International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Altuhafi, F. N., M. R. Coop, and V. N. Georgiannou. 2016. “Effect of particle shape on the mechanical behavior of natural sands.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 142 (12): 04016071. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001569.
Andò, E., S. A. Hall, G. Viggiani, J. Desrues, and P. Bésuelle. 2012. “Grain-scale experimental investigation of localised deformation in sand: A discrete particle tracking approach.” Acta Geotech. 7 (1): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-011-0151-6.
Azéma, E., N. Estrada, and F. Radjaï. 2012. “Nonlinear effects of particle shape angularity in sheared granular media.” Phys. Rev. E 86 (4): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.86.041301.
Bardet, J. P. 1994. “Observations on the effects of particle rotations on the failure of idealized granular materials.” Mech. Mater. 18 (2): 159–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-6636(94)00006-9.
Been, K., and M. G. Jefferies. 1985. “A state parameter for sands.” Géotechnique 35 (2): 99–112. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1985.35.2.99.
Bian, X., K. Shi, W. Li, X. Luo, E. Tutumluer, and Y. Chen. 2021. “Quantification of railway ballast degradation by abrasion testing and computer-aided morphology analysis.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 33 (1): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003519.
Binaree, T., I. Preechawuttipong, and E. Azéma. 2019. “Effects of particle shape mixture on strength and structure of sheared granular materials.” Phys. Rev. E 100 (1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.100.012904.
Bindal, A. K., A. Das, and A. Das. 2020. “Study on effect of particle shape on interlocking.” In Advances in Computer Methods and Geomechanics. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering 56, edited by A. Prashant, A. Sachan, and C. Desai, 455–466. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0890-5_38.
Calvetti, F., G. Combe, and J. Lanier. 1997. “Experimental micromechanical analysis of a 2d granular material: Relation between structure evolution and loading path.” Mech. Cohesive-Frict. Mater. 2 (2): 121–163. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1484(199704)2:2%3C121::AID-CFM27%3E3.0.CO;2-2.
Charalampidou, E. M., G. Combe, G. Viggiani, and J. Lanier. 2009. “Mechanical behavior of mixtures of circular and rectangular 2D particles.” AIP Conf. Proc. 1145 (1): 821–824. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3180054.
Chen, Z., M. Omidvar, K. Li, and M. Iskander. 2017. “Particle rotation of granular materials in plane strain.” Int. J. Phys. Modell. Geotech. 17 (1): 23–40. https://doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.15.00046.
Cho, G.-C., J. Dodds, and J. C. Santamarina. 2006. “Particle shape effects on packing density, stiffness and strength: natural and crushed sands.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 132 (5): 591–602. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:5(591).
Crocker, J. C., and D. G. Grier. 1996. “Methods of digital video microscopy for colloidal studies.” J. Colloid and Interface Sci. 179 (1): 298–310. https://doi.org/10.1006/jcis.1996.0217.
Estrada, N., E. Azéma, F. Radjai, and A. Taboada. 2011. “Identification of rolling resistance as a shape parameter in sheared granular media.” Phys. Rev. E 84 (1): 011306. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.011306.
Hall, S. A., M. Bornert, J. Desrues, Y. Pannier, N. Lenoir, G. Viggiani, and P. Bésuelle. 2010. “Discrete and continuum analysis of localised deformation in sand using X-Ray MCT and volumetric digital image correlation.” Géotechnique 60 (5): 315–322. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2010.60.5.315.
Lenoir, N., M. Bornert, J. Desrues, P. Bésuelle, and G. Viggiani. 2007. “Volumetric digital image correlation applied to X-Ray microtomography images from triaxial compression tests on argillaceous rock.” Strain 43 (3): 193–205. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-1305.2007.00348.x.
Mirghasemi, A. A., L. Rothenburg, and E. L. Matyas. 2002. “Influence of particle shape on engineering properties of assemblies of two-dimensional polygon-shaped particles.” Géotechnique 52 (3): 209–217. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2002.52.3.209.
Misra, A., and H. Jiang. 1997. “Measured kinematic fields in the biaxial shear of granular materials.” Comput. Geotech. 20 (3–4): 267–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-352X(97)00006-2.
Mitchell, J. K., and K. Soga. 2005. Fundamentals of soil behavior. 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Nie, Z., C. Fang, J. Gong, and Z. Liang. 2020a. “DEM study on the effect of roundness on the shear behaviour of granular materials.” Comput. Geotech. 121 (May): 103457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103457.
Nie, Z., C. Fang, J. Gong, and Z.-Y. Yin. 2020b. “Exploring the effect of particle shape caused by erosion on the shear behaviour of granular materials via the DEM.” Int. J. Solids Struct. 202 (Oct): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.05.004.
Oda, M., J. Konishi, and S. Nemat-Nasser. 1982. “Experimental micromechanical evaluation of strength of granular materials: Effects of particle rolling.” Mech. Mater. 1 (4): 269–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-6636(82)90027-8.
Polanía, O., M. Cabrera, M. Renouf, E. Azéma, and N. Estrada. 2023. “Grain size distribution does not affect the residual shear strength of granular materials: An experimental proof.” Phys. Rev. E 107 (5): L052901. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.107.L052901.
Rorato, R., M. Arroyo, E. Andò, A. Gens, and G. Viggiani. 2020. “Linking shape and rotation of grains during triaxial compression of sand.” Granular Matter 22 (4): 88. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-020-01058-2.
Rorato, R., M. Arroyo, A. Gens, E. Andò, and G. Viggiani. 2021. “Image-based calibration of rolling resistance in discrete element models of sand.” Comput. Geotech. 131 (Mar): 103929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103929.
Rothenburg, L., and R. J. Bathurst. 1992. “Micromechanical features of granular assemblies with planar elliptical particles.” Géotechnique 42 (1): 79–95. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1992.42.1.79.
Santamarina, J. C., and G. C. Cho. 2004. “Soil behaviour: The role of particle shape.” In Proc., Advances in Geotechnical Engineering: The Skempton Conf., edited by R. J. Jardine, D. M. Potts, and K. G. Higgins, 604–617. London: Thomas Telford.
Sarkar, D., M. Goudarzy, and D. König. 2019. “An interpretation of the influence of particle shape on the mechanical behavior of granular material.” Granular Matter 21 (3): 53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-019-0909-3.
Schneebeli, M. 1956. “Mechanique Des Soils-Une Analogie Mechanique Pour Les Terres sans Cohesion.” Comptes Rendes Hebdomaires Des Seances de l’Academie Des Sciences 243: 125–126.
Shin, H., and J. C. Santamarina. 2013. “Role of particle angularity on the mechanical behavior of granular mixtures.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 139 (2): 353–355. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000768.
Storti, F., F. Balsamo, and F. Salvini. 2007. “Particle shape evolution in natural carbonate granular wear material.” Terra Nova 19 (5): 344–352. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.2007.00758.x.
Suh, H. S., K. Y. Kim, J. Lee, and T. S. Yun. 2017. “Quantification of bulk form and angularity of particle with correlation of shear strength and packing density in sands.” Eng. Geol. 220 (Mar): 256–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.02.015.
Wadell, H. 1932. “Volume, shape, and roundness of rock particles.” J. Geol. 40 (5): 443–451. https://doi.org/10.1086/623964.
Wan, J., D. Kong, X. Chen, and B. Zhu. 2022. “Image analysis on grain kinematics and grain breakage of carbonate sands from south china sea during confined compression.” Appl. Ocean Res. 126 (Sep): 103253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apor.2022.103253.
Xiao, Y., Y. Ling, J. Shi, Y. Sun, and H. Liu. 2022a. “Breakage and morphology of sands in drained shearing.” Int. J. Geomech. 22 (9): 04022140. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002522.
Xiao, Y., L. Long, T. M. Evans, H. Zhou, H. Liu, and A. W. Stuedlein. 2019. “Effect of particle shape on stress-dilatancy responses of medium-dense sands.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (2): 04018105. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001994.
Xiao, Y., Y. Sun, W. Zhou, J. Shi, and C. S. Desai. 2022b. “Evolution of particle shape produced by sand breakage.” Int. J. Geomech. 22 (4): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002333.
Yang, J., and X. D. Luo. 2015. “Exploring the relationship between critical state and particle shape for granular materials.” J. Mech. Phys. Solids 84 (Nov): 196–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2015.08.001.
Yang, J., and X. D. Luo. 2018. “The critical state friction angle of granular materials: Does it depend on grading?” Acta Geotech. 13 (3): 535–547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-017-0581-x.
Yang, J., and L. M. Wei. 2012. “Collapse of loose sand with the addition of fines: The role of particle shape.” Géotechnique 62 (12): 1111–1125. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.11.P.062.
Zhang, W., J. Wang, and M. Jiang. 2013. “DEM-aided discovery of the relationship between energy dissipation and shear band formation considering the effects of particle rolling resistance.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 139 (9): 1512–1527. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000890.
Zhao, S., X. Zhou, and W. Liu. 2015. “Discrete element simulations of direct shear tests with particle angularity effect.” Granular Matter 17 (6): 793–806. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-015-0593-x.
Zheng, J., and R. D. Hryciw. 2015. “Traditional soil particle sphericity, roundness and surface roughness by computational geometry.” Géotechnique 65 (6): 494–506. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.14.P.192.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 12 • December 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 14, 2023
Accepted: Jul 29, 2024
Published online: Oct 10, 2024
Published in print: Dec 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Mar 10, 2025
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.