A probability-based approach for predicting particle crushing of granular soil

The prediction of the particle crushing subjected to different boundary conditions is still a challenging issue that obstructs the development of the constitutive model of granular soils. In the present study, a novel probability-based method was proposed to predict the particle crushing in one-dimensional compression test of granular soils. The method comprises a joint-probability particle crushing criterion that takes into account the statistical particle-scale stress distribution information derived from Discrete Element Method simulations andWeibull's distribution of particle crushing strength were considered.A normalized tensile stress index f and a diameter index I_d were introduced to quantify the statistical particle-scale data in advance. The method was then further implemented to investigate the evolution of the particle crushing in oedometer tests of quartz sands considering the effects of the initial grading and particle characteristics. © 2015 Taylor & Francis Group.